Find Spot record 5730 - Fragment of Horse Harness

Fragment of a cast copper alloy harness link dating from c.1000-1150 AD. It is part of a 2-way strap distributor which consists of a central boss with 2 arms, each terminating in an attachment loop. On this example the loops have broken off in antiquity. The arms widen towards the end but then the loops are missing. There is some decoration in the form of incised vertical lines along the arms. The central boss is circular and slightly domed with a hollow reverse. It has 2 decorative knops, on at the top, the other at the bottom of the circle which are quite worn. On the front of the boss in the middle is an incised circle as decoration. The whole surface of the object has active corrosion and the edges are worn. It has a dark green patina. A smilar example was found in Kvalsta in Central Sweden (3), (1).

<1> Portable Antiquities Scheme, Various, Portable Antiquities Data Import, LVPL-65DBE1 (Digital Archive). SCH5212.

<2> The British Museum, Portable Antiquities Scheme Online Database, LVPL-65DBE1 (Web Site). SCH5176.

<3> Williams D, 1997, Catalogue of Late Saxon Stirrup Mounts, 5 (Article in Journal). SCH3788.