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STIRRUP
Unique ID: PUBLIC-84F207
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An incomplete cast copper-alloy stirrup terminal mount of Anglo-Scandinavian derivation, dating to the 11th century. This piece consists only the bottom end of the object, just prior to where it originally would have bent back on itself to form the flat base or projecting 'ledge' of the mount which would have aided in supporting the terminal ends of the stirrup's foot-plate. In profile view the mount is broadly semi-circular while being sub-rectangular in plan. The reverse face of the mount is hollow-backed in order to facilitate its attachment to a stirrup, as well as demonstrating some possible traces of solder. In contrast, the upper face demonstrates zoomorphic decoration in the form of a snarling animal head (perhaps based on a wolf or bear), with prominent ears and eyes that taper towards the 'snout' of the head and its abrupt truncation, executed through high-relief moulding. Preserved in reasonable condition with a light brown coarse patination typical of 11th century metalwork, the mount measures 16.41mm long, 8.73mm wide at its widest point, and 7.56mm thick at its thickest point. It weighs 2.6 grammes. David Williams discusses these mounts in his datasheet on stirrup terminals (Williams 1997, 1), though this example is not exactly paralleled in his paper due to the wide variety of different decorative forms that exist. However, very similar pieces have been recorded on the PAS database, such as SUR-C961B1 and SUR-5C1803.
Class: terminal
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1000
Date to: Circa AD 1100
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 16.41 mm
Width: 8.73 mm
Thickness: 7.56 mm
Weight: 2.6 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 28th August 2016
Rally details.
This object was found at SMDC Compton 2016
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Zoomorphic
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: West Sussex (County)
District: Chichester (District)
Parish or ward: Compton (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SU7615
Four figure Latitude: 50.92945493
Four figure longitude: -0.91993923
1:25K map: SU7615
1:10K map: SU71NE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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