Record ID: DEV-613754
Object type: HARNESS FITTING
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An early medieval strap link of Anglo-Scandinavian origin, dating to AD 1000-1100. The link is composed of two circular loops, one of which is filled in with iron corrosion. They form the terminals of a pair of arms which are D-shaped in profile, and are joined by a raised circular central boss. The two loops have bevelled edges.  According to Williams, 'Anglo Scandinavian Horse Harness fittings' (2007, p1), these harness links are Anglo-Scandinavian in origin and derive from the Viking Ringerike style, as seen on examples where the boss is a distinct…
Created on: Monday 7th March 2022
Last updated: Thursday 17th August 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: HAMP-F30023
Object type: HARNESS FITTING
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A late early-medieval or early medieval (1000-1200) copper-alloy strap fitting from harness / bridle fitting, perhaps from a cheekpiece. It consists of a trapezoidal/ square loop at one end with a parallel-sided integral plate extending from the shortest edge. The loop is decorated on three outside edges with transverse (and sometimes diagonal) grooves. These edges all slope inwards and have a height of max.5.2mm. The loop is 14.7mm in length with a max. width of 15.5mm at the outside edge and a min. width of 11.9mm at the edge where the integral plate extends. Internally the measure…
Created on: Thursday 11th April 2019
Last updated: Wednesday 24th April 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: PAS-2F1343
Object type: HARNESS FITTING
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A broken and incomplete late early-medieval cast copper-alloy harness link (c. 11th century AD). The object consists of a central plate with boss; to one side the arm and its terminal loop has been lost. The arms are D-shaped in cross-section, with a flat reverse. At what would have been the centre of the complete link there is a low oval boss which is hollow on the reverse. The complete arm terminates in a circular loop that features three rounded knops, one at each cardinal point. The object is a red-brown colour with some small patches of light-green corrosion product.
Created on: Wednesday 7th November 2018
Last updated: Wednesday 7th November 2018
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Gussage St. Michael CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: PAS-608E5B
Object type: HARNESS FITTING
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
An incomplete late early-medieval cast copper-alloy harness link (c. 11th century AD). The object would have consisted of a central circular plate with boss from which four arms would have emerged, one at each cardinal point; one arm has been lost completely, while another arm now only has a vestigial loop. Integral with the central circle is a high domed boss which is hollow backed. The arms are semicircular in cross-section, with a flat reverse. The surviving loops are oval and bevelled externally. They feature three rounded knops, one at each cardinal point. The object is a red-…
Created on: Tuesday 16th October 2018
Last updated: Tuesday 16th October 2018
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Gussage All Saints CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: PAS-602147
Object type: HARNESS FITTING
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
An incomplete late early-medieval cast copper-alloy harness link (c. 11th century AD). The object consists of a central plate with boss; part of one of the terminal loops have been lost. The arms are semicircular in cross-section, with a flat reverse. At what would have been the centre of the complete link there is a low moulded boss with a small knop extending either side of the plate. The boss is solid. The plate terminated at each end in a loop; as noted, one is now vestigial. The other is circular and features three rounded knops, one at each cardinal point. The object is a red-br…
Created on: Tuesday 16th October 2018
Last updated: Tuesday 16th October 2018
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Wimborne St. Giles CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: PAS-5C5AB0
Object type: HARNESS FITTING
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A corroded and incomplete late early-medieval cast copper-alloy harness link (11th century AD). The object consists of a central plate with boss, though one half of the plate beyond the boss, along with its loop, have been lost. The arm is semicircular in cross-section, with a flat reverse. At one end of this is a moulded boss extending either side of the plate. It represents a face, probably zoomorphic rather than anthropomorphic. Just protruding above the plate are a pair of pointed ears. Below the plate is the nose and the lopsided V-shaped mouth. The nose is moulded, triangular, a…
Created on: Tuesday 16th October 2018
Last updated: Tuesday 16th October 2018
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Gussage St. Michael CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: DOR-3F26F2
Object type: HARNESS FITTING
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete copper alloy harness or bridle fitting dating to c.1000-1100. It is a fragment of either a bit link or a harness link, but it is not possible to determine which as only one half is present. It comprises a lozengiform frame and a short bar leading to a central globular knop. The bar is D-shaped in section. At the end of the bar is a lozengiform frame with a knop at each of the three corners and a central sub-circular aperture. The fitting would have possibly had a decorative central boss which extended into the symmetrical other half which is now missing. The reverse is …
Created on: Wednesday 15th August 2018
Last updated: Monday 8th March 2021
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-AB86B4
Object type: HARNESS FITTING
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of copper alloy Anglo-Scandinavian harness link. The harness link is D-shaped in cross-section with a flat reverse. and convex front. The object comprises the stub of a bar with a loop at the end.The bar is D-shaped in cross section. It terminates in a lozengiform loop with an oval aperture and a low knop at three of the corners. The loop is hollowed at the rear. Dimensions: 27.61 mm x 22.24 mm x 4.08 mm WEight: 5.74 g Date: Early Medieval - c. AD 1000 - 1100. Similar examples are illustrated in Williams, D, 2007, Anglo-Scandinavian Horse Harness Fittings (FRG Datas…
Created on: Wednesday 9th August 2017
Last updated: Wednesday 16th August 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-AB6728
Object type: HARNESS FITTING
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A copper alloy Anglo-Scandinavian harness link. The harness link is D-shaped in cross-section with a flat reverse. and convex front. The object comprises a bar with a loop at either end. At the centre of the bar is a circular raised boss with two rounded projections flanking it, one on either edge of the bar. At either end of the bar is a lozengiform loop with a sub-circular aperture and a low knop at three of the corners. The loops are hollowed at the rear. One of the loops has been bent forward at the end. Dimensions: 60.44 mm x 22.05 mm x 8.64 mm WEight: 18.05 g Date: Early Me…
Created on: Wednesday 9th August 2017
Last updated: Wednesday 16th August 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-52C816
Object type: HARNESS FITTING
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A cast copper alloy harness link with zoomorphic decoration. A double-ended fitting with a centrally-placed boss. The ends are lozenge-shaped, with large oval perforations and the boss is moulded to represent a forward-facing beast's head. The bar has a D-shaped cross section. The boss and loops are hollowed at the rear. At the three external corners of each lozenge there is a rounded knop. The beast hasan upwards-pointing ear at each end of the top of its head. The face is heavily stylised with angled ridges delineating the eyes and raised chevrons for the mouth. Date: Late Early-M…
Created on: Tuesday 28th February 2017
Last updated: Friday 17th November 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SOM-9CD46D
Object type: HARNESS FITTING
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete early medieval copper alloy horse harness fitting or bit link dating to c. AD 1000 - 1100. The bit link is D-shaped in cross-section and consists of a central bar section which terminates in an old break at one end. At the other end is a D-shaped loop with bevelled inner edges. These object would have been attached to the end of the iron bit at one end and secured to the reins at the other. Similar examples are illustrated in Williams, D. W, 2007, p.4, fig. 5. The fitting measures 17.74mm in length, 23.07mm in width, is 5.20mm thick and weighs 5.44g.
Created on: Monday 16th May 2016
Last updated: Monday 20th March 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: PUBLIC-01DA9A
Object type: HARNESS FITTING
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A incomplete cast copper-alloy strap junction for horse harness from the early medieval period, circa 11th century. Only the central cuboid boss, one complete arm and lozenge shaped terminal, and a stub of the other arm survive (the missing arm and terminal section is likely to have been a mirror image of the section shown). Three sides of the boss have a single ring and dot decoration. The boss has a narrow collar on each of the arms. The arms are triangular in section. The lozengiform terminal end has a circular aperture and with the three triangular-sectioned knops. The back is fla…
Created on: Wednesday 23rd July 2014
Last updated: Friday 26th May 2017
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Nr Wimborne', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: DOR-1C5D40
Object type: HARNESS FITTING
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete copper alloy probable horse harness mount. A probable harness mount or bridle fitting. The main body of the mount is broadly lozengiform, with a break at one end and a flared terminal at the other. The front is faceted with a central rib. Before the break, the mount widens slightly and the surface is decorated with a moulded zoomorphic or human face. The face comprises two pellet eyes with concentric recesses around them, arched eyebrows above and a triangular nose ridge between them. The front of the mount is heavily gilded, apart from the flared terminal. The remaining…
Created on: Thursday 15th September 2011
Last updated: Wednesday 4th March 2015
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Spetisbury', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: HAMP-8DE612
Object type: HARNESS FITTING
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A corroded and incomplete late early-medieval cast copper-alloy harness link (11th century AD). The object consists of a central plate, semicircular in cross-section, with a flat reverse. Central on this is a moulded boss extending either side of the plate. The boss is 14.85m in length. It represents a face, although whether it was intended to be anthropomorphic or zoomorphic is difficult to tell due to the wear and corrosion suffered by the artefact. Just protruding above the plate are a pair of pointed ears. Below the plate is the nose and the V-shaped mouth. The nose is moulded, as…
Created on: Monday 29th June 2009
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Tarrant Launceston CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOMDOR-E14156
Object type: HARNESS FITTING
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A cast copper alloy harness link of eleventh century AD date. The double-ended fitting with a centrally-placed boss measures 77.7mm by 22.8mm by 9.2mm and weighs 29.1g. The ends are lozenge-shaped, with large oval perforations and the boss is moulded to represent a forward-facing beast's head. At the three external corners of each lozenge there is a rounded knop and between the lozenge and the bar there is a vertical ridge, 1mm in width. The beast has an upwards-pointing ear at each end of the top of its head, faintly incised circular eyes, a wide human nose-like snout and horizontal l…
Created on: Thursday 12th October 2006
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Compton Abbas', grid reference and parish protected.

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Record ID: SOMDOR404
Object type: HARNESS FITTING
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
Late early-medieval copper alloy strap junction. Two lozenge shaped couplings with oval hole for strap to pass through - one at each end of a bar which has a central raised knob. Knops at each of the corners of the couplings. Very similar to broken example in B. Read "History Beneath Our Feet".
Created on: Wednesday 5th April 2000
Last updated: Thursday 13th July 2017
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'DORSET WARMWELL', grid reference and parish protected.