Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
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BROOCH
Unique ID: SOM-6947E4
Object type certainty: Probably
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Fragment of a possibly zoomorphic copper alloy Medieval buckle or possibly brooch frame. The frame is roughly oval with a straight, recessed bar and probably a recessed pin rest. Almost all of one side remains and is moulded seemingly into the shape of a quadraped, leopard or dog, with their back legs by the strap bar, body ending in a double transverse collar at the widest point (the shoulders), very worn but possibly projecting head and front paws reaching forward to clasp the pin rest. Due to the amount of wear however this identification is uncertain. The fragment is 19.8mm long, 15.5mm wide and 4.5mm thick, it weighs 2.20g.
Due to it's incomplete form the frame is hard to parallel precisely. It appears probably to be Medieval in form and the recessed strap bar suggests a buckle rather than brooch. It may be similar to SUSS-DCBFD2 and more complete examples of brooches such as LON-336E11 and BERK-AFEB78.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1100
Date to: Circa AD 1450
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 19.8 mm
Width: 15.5 mm
Thickness: 4.5 mm
Weight: 2.2 g
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: SCC receipt 19264
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Devon (County)
District: North Devon (District)
To be known as: South Molton CP
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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