STIRRUP

A complete copper-alloy early medieval stirrup terminal, dating to the period AD 1000-1100

The entire terminal slants at angle, following the typical shape of a stirrup and the top end is more bulbous than the rest of the object. To section off this end, there is a very slightly dents inwards and follows downwards with parallel edges. The terminals end follows suit with the top as it bulbs outwards, and slightly dents inwards. The edges gradually narrows inwards and join together at a rounded point. The terminal is decorated in the form of a zoomorphic beast. The nose, snout and eyes are all visible although the terminal is heavily abraded. The posterior of the object is hollow, which would have originally allowed enclosed the diagonal arms of the lower part of an iron stirrup. A very small about of corroded iron is evidence of this.

The terminal weighs 16.24g, the length is 40.11mm and the width is 10.75mm.

The object conforms an illustration in "The Field Research Group AD700-1700" Datasheets 24, Williams (1997) "Stirrup Terminals". An illustration which holds fair similarities is on page 2, Figure 4, No. C. Williams (2003) describes this form as a diminutive forms with pairs of raised crests. He also states that the designs are variable and cross over a variety of simple zoomorphic forms. Figure 5 also conforms to the object according to its foot like shape.