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HARNESS MOUNT
Unique ID: BERK-349DFD
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A worn and incomplete cast copper alloy heraldic horse harness mount dating to the medieval period. The mount is of unusual form comprising a bar with a shield-shaped element between two circular rivet holes, one being the terminal end of the mount while the other, on the opposite side of the shield, has a continuation of the bar extending the other side. It is possible therefore that there was another shield section in sequence which is now broken and missing. The shield does appear to have heraldic motifs upon it but it is too worn to discern any detail. Interestingly the reverse of the shield also appears to bear some form of decoration, but again the condition is too poor to decipher any decoration. This reverse decoration is unusual and it may be that the mount has been reused, or the patter onthe reverse may be a result of production techniques. Only the front of the mount retains some gilding - there is none on the reverse. Although no direct comparison could be found for this mount, it is part of a well-known set of harness mounts and pendants that were common during the medieval period, and will date from c. AD 1200-1450.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1450
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 46.3 mm
Width: 16.7 mm
Thickness: 2.1 mm
Weight: 6.1 g
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: OXPAS2015.344
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Heraldic
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: West Berkshire (Unitary Authority)
District: West Berkshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Great Shefford (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SU3975
Four figure Latitude: 51.4726262
Four figure longitude: -1.43988537
1:25K map: SU3975
1:10K map: SU37NE
Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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