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MOUNT
Unique ID: WILT-B1D18F
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A complete gilded copper alloy early medieval (early Anglo-Saxon) mount. It consists of a circular copper alloy plate (37mm in diameter) with a raised border around the outside of the outer face and raised chip-carved Style II zoomorphic interlace decoration in the centre with a central raised projection (4.95mm). Gilding still covers most of this decoration although some small patches are missing in places. To the reverse are the remnants of three iron projections.
Examples with four rivets are often associated with decorative horse harness disc mounts. Similar mounts, also gilded and with Style II decoration, from Allington Hill, Cambs., and Spelsbury, Oxon. are illustrated by Fern (2005, figs.5.6 & 5.15) who suggests that this style of mount became popular in the late 6th to early 7th century AD, taking over from the earlier cruciform mount (ibid.53). A number of similar mounts have been recorded with the PAS, including CAM-758D07 from Cambridgeshire, BH-EA77E7 from Hertfordshire, NMS-504C06 from Norfolk and BERK-F72627 from Oxfordshire.
Alternatively, the presence of iron on the reverse may suggest that it is an apex mount from an early Anglo-Saxon shield boss.
Find of note status
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Anglo-Saxon style
Date from: Circa AD 600
Date to: Circa AD 700
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 4.75 mm
Weight: 15.39 g
Diameter: 31 mm
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: SSWM 5228
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Gilded
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Dorset (County)
District: East Dorset (District)
To be known as: Gussage
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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