Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: LIN-9A2879
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Late Saxon copper-alloy tongue-shaped strap-end from a sword harness of Thomas's Class E, Type 1. Only the lower portion of the front-plate survives. The plate is cast in low relief within a raised linear border following the edge. Within this border is a sunken field filled with Carolingian-style relief decoration of a palmette set within a stylised plant with acanthus foliage and brush like leaves. This decoration consists of a central stem with two sub-rectangular collars, a pair of opposed down-turned scrolls springs from the lower corners of the upper collar. Another pair of opposed floriate scrolls spring from the second first set of downturned scrolls, curling upwards. All of these scrolly tendrils end in rounded terminals. The stem terminates in a tear-drop shape delineated by floriate lobes, internally there is a longitudinal groove which may have originally been inlaid with niello. Extending from the tear-drop shape is a trefoil with a hollow interior. There is no evidence of gilding.
Surviving length: 28.93 mm; Width: 33.34 mm; Thickness: 3.15 mm; Weight: 12.35g
Carolingian belt fittings from England were imported either indirectly via Scandinavia and/or through direct contacts with the continent (Thomas 2012, 505). This strap end stylistically parallels the so-called 'Aspatria-type' strap ends. Gabor Thomas (2012) proposed that the distribution of the 'Aspatria-type' style strap end indicates an Irish Sea localisation, arguing that these items were probably worn by recently acculturated Norse communities of the Irish Sea region (Thomas 2012, 509-10). A quick scan on the online database has revealed that similar styles of strap end have in fact been found in the East Riding of Yorkshire and now this example from Osbournby in Lincolnshire (YORYM-DA5D37, IOW-CF2D07, YORYM-AF4D02) - hinting at a wider distribution and diffusion of 'Aspatria-type' strap ends.
Other examples of Carolingian-style gilded silver strap fittings include YORYM-DA5D37, YORYM-AF4D02, IOW-CF2D07, NMS-C179C1, SF-7DFA81, NMS-638554 (HER 56967) and NMS-ADCA16 (HER 58413). Thomas suggests a date for this type in the late 9th or 10th century (Thomas 2004, 1).
Gabor Thomas (2012) Carolingian Culture in the North Sea World: Rethinking the Cultural Dynamics of Personal Adornment in Viking-Age England, European Journal of Archaeology, 15:3, 486-518
Class:
Sword harness
Sub class: Thomas Class E
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Anglo-Scandinavian style
Date from: Circa AD 900
Date to: Circa AD 1000
Quantity: 1
Length: 28.93 mm
Width: 33.34 mm
Thickness: 3.15 mm
Weight: 12.35 g
This information is restricted for your access level.
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Floral
Completeness: Incomplete
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.