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STIRRUP
Unique ID: BH-32FF1C
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An early-medieval to medieval copper-alloy stirrup terminal.
The piece is zoomorphic in nature, taking the form of a three-dimensional representation of the head of a beast. The terminal is roughly semi-cylindrical, with an open underside, into which the stirrup arm would have fitted. The top of the animal's head is humped and has a sub-triangular moulding on its upper surface. This triangle tapers towards the snout, extending down the gently sloping brow and separating the recessed, sub-rectangular eye sockets. The ears, located behind the brow hump, are also recessed, their back edges defined by an M-shaped ridge. At the front of the face the upper jaw angles upwards at approximately 45 degrees, terminating in a rounded snout. A stop ridge for the stirrup arm projects downwards from the underside of the jaw, and the concavity on the underside of the fitting is coated with a corroded white metal solder.
Length: 28.8mm; width: 8.7mm; height: 9.6mm. Weight: 5g.
The function of stirrup terminals of this form was to join together the horizontal and near-vertical arms of the stirrup (for illustration, see Williams 1997: 7). Little work has so far been carried out in categorising this diverse range of fittings which operated in conjunction with the more heavily studied stirrup-strap mounts. Stirrup fittings of this form date from the 11th century, their use probably spanning the period either side of the Norman conquest. The decorative content of this piece is derived from the Scandinavian Urnes style of ornamentation.
Class: terminal
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1000
Date to: Circa AD 1100
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 28.8 mm
Height: 9.6 mm
Width: 8.7 mm
Weight: 5 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 1st July 2015
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: Ver 15/111 - 117
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Lead Alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Oxfordshire (County)
District: West Oxfordshire (District)
To be known as: Clanfield
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williams, D. | 1997 | Late Saxon Stirrup-Strap Mounts: A Classification and Catalogue | York | CBA Research Report 111 |
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Timeline of associated dates
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