Rights Holder: Suffolk County Council
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MOUNT

Unique ID: SF-45E989

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation

An incomplete cast copper-alloy Late Early-Medieval (Anglo-Scandinavian) strap junction or chain distributor, dating c. AD 1000-1100. It consists of a rectangular central plate, which is decorated on the front with a moulded devolved zoomorphic design defined by oblique raised mouldings. The back face of this element is slightly concave. This example may have been originally a four-way distributor: two edges of the plate retain protruding lugs pierced with circular holes, on the third edge the lug only survives partially, and the fourth (with a very worn break) is missing completely-thus originally probably reflecting a cruciform appearance. Where the lugs survive, they are thinner than the central plate. It is preserved in fair condition with a coarse brownish green patina.

Length: 16.55 mm

Width: 16.18 mm

Thickness of the central plate: 4.30 mm

Max thickness of the lugs: 2.54 mm

Weight: 2.41 g

Discussion: A similar mount has been published from Reigate Hill, Surrey (Williams 1999, 188; no. 99) and is also dated to the 11th century. See also other examples of similar form published on the PAS database in the following records; WILT-9F4BA2, BH-9BC397, LIN-206416, YORYM-03C976, PUBLIC-D12086 and ESS-4D09D8. The small size and relatively delicate construction of these objects suggests that an interpretation as a chain distributor is perhaps more appropriate. The similarity of the decoration to Anglo-Scandinavian stirrup terminals is also a notable factor which supports an 11th century date.

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture: Anglo-Scandinavian style
Date from: Circa AD 1000
Date to: Circa AD 1100

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 16.55 mm
Width: 16.18 mm
Thickness: 4.3 mm
Weight: 2.41 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 2nd March 2016

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Other reference: Finder's reference: Bay Thorne End, Field 1, no. 39.

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete

Spatial metadata

County or Unitary authority: Essex (County)
District: Braintree (District)
To be known as: Bay Thorne End

Spatial coordinates

Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Cultivated land
Specific landuse: Character undetermined

References cited

No references cited so far.

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Timeline of associated dates

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Audit data

Recording Institution: SF
Created: 5 years ago
Updated: 5 years ago

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