STRAP END

A middle/ late early-medieval (750-1050) copper alloy strap-end of Thomas' Class B Type 1 (or B1), parallel-sided with wedge-shaped split end, stylised zoomorphic terminal and transverse-rib decoration.
The split attachment end comprises a top and back plate, each 0.6mm thick, and both have a (presumably decorative) V-shaped nick at the centre of their short edges. Either side of this the edges appear to angle slightly away to the corner. Below and in horizontal alignment with each other are two rivet holes (again on both plates) 1.5mm in diameter. The long edges of the wedge-shaped attachment end are slightly raised behind the join with the main body of the strap end, which is marked by a wide transverse ridge.
The shaft is D-shaped in cross-section (being flat to the underside) and undecorated except for a trio of transverse grooves just before the split end and just behind the zoomorphic terminal. It is 4.8mm wide and 2.5mm thick.
The stylised zoomorphic terminal narrows slightly from 4.7mm wide across the brow ridge to 4.3mm wide at the snout. The central part is taken up by two moulded triangles, apex-to-apex, longitudinally arranged. A horizontal rib extends from the apex to either edge where angled grooves emphasise a moulded triangle at 90 degrees to the face of the object, extending from the horizontal rib.
The underside of the strap-end is undecorated but has a vertical patch of silvery-grey substance, perhaps solder. Otherwise the entire object has a darkish-green, smooth and shiny patina. It measures 40.7mm in length, 7.8mm in max.width (at the attachment end), 2.6mm in max.thickness (at the attachment end) and weighs 3.13g.
Thomas comments that this type was introduced in the latter 8th or early 9th century and remained popular until the 11th. It is widely distributed in southern and south-east England and much less frequent north of The Wash.