Find Spot record 14926 - Medieval Harness Fitting

<1> Portable Antiquities Scheme, Various, Portable Antiquities Data Import, WMID-C1CB3A (Digital Archive). SCH5212.

An incomplete copper alloy strap distributor or harness link, of the Late Early Medieval period, dating from c. AD 1000 to c. AD 1100.The terminal is lozenge shaped, D shaped in section and has a large, central, broadly circular perforation. The loop of the lozenge is incomplete, and shows an ancient break. There is a rounded knop on each corner of the lozenge terminal, with a ridge at the base where it connects to the loop. The loop has an incomplete broadly rectangular perforation in the centre. There is an ancient break at this end of the object. The reverse is flat behind the knops and is bevelled towards the centre of the loop on the inner edge. The object is undecorated. The object measures 17.6 mm in length and is 26.1 mm wide. It has a maximum thickness, at the outer edge of 5.6 mm and the inner (bevelled) edge is 3.2 mm thick. It weighs 5.3 g. The object is a mid green to brown in colour with an uneven patina. Abrasion caused by movement whilst within the plough soil may have resulted in the loss of some of the original surface detail. A similar example of this type of object can be seen in Williams (2007), page 1, Fig 1. It has been identified as probably a Type 1 and has been dated to the 11th century AD. Other similar more complete examples have also been recorded on the database including NMS-F101F0, SWYOR-567C6A, WMID-445557, WMID-D1D85F and WMID-F39552. See (3).

<2> The British Museum, Portable Antiquities Scheme Online Database, WMID-C1CB3A (Web Site). SCH5176.

<3> Williams D, 2007, Anglo Scandinavian Horse Harness Fittings (Book). SCH8676.