BRIDLE BIT

An incomplete early to middle Iron Age (600 - 200 BC) copper alloy harness fitting, perhaps a bridle bit, consisting of an incomplete sub-circular ring extending from a socketed base with a closed underside and surrounding skirt. Both skirt and ring are incomplete.
The sub-circular ring is missing just less than half. At the top break, where it is narrowest, it is solid and pointed-oval in cross-section (6.6mm wide, 4.2mm thick). The other break is nearer the base and here it is hollow (the metal 0.9 to 1.7mm thick) and a more rounded oval in cross-section (7x6.4mm). To the inside surface of the ring, just above its base, there is a decorative vertical groove extending to either side. Just below, the base of the ring measures 11.2mm wide and 9.7mm thick. It expands to 19.1mm wide and 18.1mm thick at the top of the skirt. This projects to front and back only and not to the sides. One face is damaged (old) though the skirt is roughly semi-circular in shape. The other face is slightly shorter but complete, and formed of two rounded 'petals' with a wide inverted-V cut between. Inside, at the top of the skirt, is an oval perforation (3.3x3.7mm) into the socketed area beyond.
The original patina remains in patches and to the inside of the ring, where it is smooth and light green-grey in colour. Elsewhere the metal is rougher to the touch and a brighter green in colour. The object measures 33.2mm tall, measures 17.8mm in max.width, 10.1mm in max.thickness and weighs 15.47g.