EARLY MEDIEVAL HOOKED TAG

700

An incomplete copper alloy hooked tag, of Early Medieval dating (8th to 11th Centuries AD).The plate is triangular or shield-shaped, with squared corners at the top and curved lower edges. There is a broad groove around each of the two circular attachment holes, on one face only. The image appears also to show further very worn decoration on this face, of a line of zig-zag or rocker-arm engraving down the centre between the two holes, and a border of similar engraving around the edge of the plate. The holes have an internal diameter of 1.7 mm. The hook is slender and incomplete.The hooked tag measures 20.58 mm in length, 15.06 mm wide and 2.10 mm thick. It weighs 1.2 g. It is a mid to dark green colour, with an uneven surface patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of some of the original surface, leaving areas of a lighter green colour. These areas should be monitored for signs of active copper corrosion (a bright green powdery residue). To reduce the risk of this happening, the hooked tag should be stored in a sealed air tight, dry box, such as a sealed tupperware box, lined with silica gel and acid free tissue paper.