SLEEVE CLASP

A copper alloy sleeve clasp dating to the Early Medieval period (c. AD 450-570). Hines form B18b. The sleeve clasp consists of a rectangular body with an attachment lug projecting from one side. One surface of the sleeve clasp presents moulded decoration in the form of six conjoined roundels, and a bar with a series of raised ridges and corresponding grooves. The remains of gilding is present across the surface. The reverse is plain with two projections, one at either end, which have broken.

The metal has a mid-green patina.

The sleeve clasp is 39.6mm long, 13.2m wide, 1.7mm thick and weighs 5.1g.

Form B18 comprises a relatively large series of different types of clasps which are elaborately designed (Hines 1993, p.59).

Wrist clasps have been studied and classified by Hines (1993) and Penn and Brugmann (2007). Hines three levels of classification suggests a date range of late 5th to 6th century for these objects. Penn and Brugmann’s chronological study of selected East Anglian grave-good types included a small sample size of wrist clasps which limited their suggested dating to the mid-to late 5th century.

As these systems have not been completely reconciled it seems reasonable to give all wrist-clasps a wide date-range of c.AD 450-570 (see https://finds.org.uk/counties/findsrecordingguides/wrist-clasps/).

Ref:

Hines, J (1993) Clasps Hektespenner Agraffen: Anglo-Scandinavian Clasps of Classes A-C of the 3rd to 6th Centuries A D: Typology, diffusion and function. Stockholm: Kungl Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien.