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MOUNT
Unique ID: BUC-8E1C04
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
A gilded copper alloy mount in the form of a human head. The face is straight sided and the details are simply shown, with incised circles for eyes, and a small ellipse for the mouth. There are two curved grooves either side of the nose, which may be a moustache or the fortuitous survival of the gilding. The head is topped by a rounded helmet or hat, the sides of which have incised lines parallel to the brim, but these are worn away at the front. The headdress appears to have flat, curved additions framing the face and a semi circular crest at the top, both with the grooved lines. The reverse of the face is undecorated and flat, except for a hollow reflecting the shape of the face on the other side. There are no signs of rivet holes or any other method of fixing the head to something. The preservation of the object is patchy, being pitted and in poor condition in some parts and remarkably well gilded in others. The head is believed to be c. 6th century AD and slightly resembles the curious heads on the Sutton Hoo whetstone. Heads with unusual headgear can be seen on the mouth fittings of the Taplow and Sutton Hoo drinking horns and the Sutton Hoo helmet (pers comm. Angela Care Evans).
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
Ascribed Culture:
Anglo-Saxon
Date from: AD 500
Date to: AD 600
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 33 mm
Width: 18 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 1st January 1995
Personal details
Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Recorded by: Ms Ros Tyrrell
Identified by: Ms Ros Tyrrell
Secondary identifier: Dr Helen Geake
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Milton Keynes (Unitary Authority)
District: Milton Keynes (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Westcroft
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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