HARNESS FITTING

A probable incomplete cast flanged terret (length: 45.8mm; width: 23mm; thickness at lip: 6.9mm; weight: 17.29g). Of crescent shape, this probable terret has the remains of a continuous scroll-pattern with red enamel surviving in places inside the scroll loops as well as outside in the La Tene style, noted in Bushe-Fox's 'Fourth Report on the Excavations of the Roman Fort at Richborough, Kent, 1949, as the 'champleve technique'. There is a slight lip/ rim protruding out from the front of the artefact at the bottom below the scroll-work and cresent platform, forming a border for what seems to be a circular opening or hole through which the attachments for the probable terret could have been fixed. There is a large amount of wear and tear or corrosion on the artefact, particularly long the outer edges as well as along the protruding lip/ rim. There is no decoration on the back of the object, leading J D Hill of the British Museum to suggest that it may not be a flanged terret as this would be decorated on both sides. Generally, the artefact is in a worn and poor condition. with some areas of bronze disease along the edges as well as having a dark green/ black patina in places.

A very similar and complete flanged terret is illustrated in Bushe-Fox, plate 1, ref no 2 & page 106. The artwork on the terret is similar but it has the addition of small circular insets of opaque blue glass in the centre of the heads of the bronze scrolls. According to Bushe-Fox, other similar examples have ben found at Bapchild, Kent; the Thames at Runnymede; Auchendolly, Dumfries; Colchester and at Westhall, Suffolk. Examples have also been found in Egypt and France. With the exception of Scotish and foreign examples, the distrubution of these flanged terrets is confined to the south-east of England, and the terrets may be accepted as fine examples of native Belgic craftsmanship (Bushe-Fox, page 106). The artefact probably dates to the 1st century AD.