Rights Holder: Frank Basford
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STIRRUP
Unique ID: IOW-C70546
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
Incomplete and abraded cast copper alloy stirrup-strap mount of Late-Early Medieval/Medieval date (AD 1000 - AD 1100). Williams Class A (possibly Type 1). Length 34mm, maximum width 25.4mm and 2.4mm thick. Weight 8.59g.
The mount is of pentagonal shape in plan and has a horizontal base. Above the base, the mount has two straight sides and each side tapers inwards slightly. The sloping shoulders of the mount are formed by two addorsed beasts beneath a pendant lobe that contained an apex loop. The loop is incomplete and has an old abraded break. The shape of the addorsed beasts is defined by symmetrical open-work consisting of two small circular openings to distinguish the head from the forelegs and two large elongated openings to delineate the underside and hind parts of the beasts.
Below the open-work is moulded decoration in low relief which forms what is possibly the looping bodies of two snake-like beasts. However, this interpretation is not certain due to the indistinct morphology and abstract nature of the design. At each lower corner is a fixing hole which is about 3mm in diameter. On the flat and plain reverse is the scant remains of a flange which has an old abraded break.
The decoration of Class A, type 1 stirrup-strap mounts is usually engraved or punched. However, the decoration on this mount appears to be moulded although it is very abraded.
Notes:
For information on this class of stirrup-strap mount, see:
Williams, D. 1979. "Late Saxon Stirrup-Strap Mounts: A Classification and Catalogue". 24-34. CBA Research Report 111. York: Council for British Archaeology.
Class:
strap mount
Sub class: Williams Class A, Type uncertain
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: 34 mm
Width: 25.4 mm
Thickness: 2.4 mm
Weight: 8.59 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 1st January 2003
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: IOW2005-57-2
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
District: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Isle of Wight
Spatial coordinates
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williams, D. | 1997 | Late Saxon Stirrup-Strap Mounts: A Classification and Catalogue | York | CBA Research Report 111 | 24-34 |
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Timeline of associated dates
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