EARLY MEDIEVAL STRAP FITTING

900

A fragment of a cast copper-alloy probable strap fitting of probable Early Medieval date. The fragment comprises part of a plate with a possible attachment loop on one side. It is difficult to be sure which way up the fragment should go but there appears to be an anthropomorphic engraving on the face which suggests that the attachment loop is at the top of the object with a projecting 'arm' to the right which is broken. To the left is another, wider, 'arm' which is also broken. The bottom of the fitting has a third projection which begins to bend to the left but is also truncated. Decoration is of engraved lines which forms two circles with a rectangle between them which flares slightly at the bottom suggesting two eyes and a nose. Above the right eye, a line extends into a semi-circular shape which joins the nose. There is the beginning of a similar pattern on the left but this is unclear due to the break. Below the 'nose' is a transverse band around the lower projection. It measures 24.01mm in length, 24.62mm in width, 4.54mm in thickness and weighs 11.17g.