https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/templates/general_wide/img/logo.png https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous.html https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/ring-59015.html Mon, 17 Nov 2025 13:33:39 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A large undecorated ring, most likely dating to the Iron Age or Roman period. The ring is toroidal in shape, with a smooth and pale surface patination consistent with age. Evidence of wear and abrasion to one side has exposed a darker brown core. The cross-sectional thickness, wear and overall size would suggest employment with harness related fittings or similar. A comparable example displaying additional corroded iron products is recorded as ESS-4C0E87. Note also; NLM-F5C2FC, as well as contextual comments below for dating purposes.
Category:		Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/triskele-fob-or-dangler-58916.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 13:03:59 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A cast copper-alloy 'fob' or 'dangler' of the late Iron Age to early Roman period. The object has been cast in separate pieces, including a zoomorphic body and a circular loop for suspension. The body is moulded in the form of three long-billed, swan-like bird-heads, conjoined centrally at the necks and symmetrically arranged as an openwork triskele. The birds' eyes are bead-like and very prominent, and they also appear to have been separately cast and fitted to the heads. The loop has a radial shank, which is fitted into the centre of the body and riveted to secure it. The shank has a small ornamental collar below the loop, and it will be shouldered where it enters the body in order to prevent axial movement. The exact function of these objects is uncertain but they may have been used for decoration on horse harness or for personal adornment. See also UKDFD 40498 and PAS NARC-7584E7.
Category:		Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/strap-fitting-58048.html Sat, 15 Jun 2024 18:43:35 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		An unusual artefact, probably an incomplete looped harness fitting dating to the late Iron Age. The body of the object is generally lenticular, with two incomplete sub-rectangular stubs located at each end on the reverse. The remaining short stubs were likely once joined together forming an integral bar. The face is decorated with multiple projecting knobs of irregular sizes arranged in three longitudinal rows; one following a central line and one along each side, with each terminal end narrowing into a cluster of three knobs. The body is U-shaped, and somewhat distorted and split at one end. No comparable artefact has been traced to date. It can be noted, however, that the design element of prominent projecting knobs in singular or clustered form were used to embellish Iron Age objects such as; UKDFD 57051, and the artefact could indeed be a very unusual form of terret. More likely though, the fitting is a form of equine related strap loop for securing harness.
Category:		Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/torc-fragment-58033.html Mon, 03 Jun 2024 11:03:55 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A fragment of beaded cooper-alloy torc dating from the late Iron Age to early Roman period. The fragment consists of four beads, each disc-shaped with ribbed spool moulding between. One end of the fragment displays a fracture, and at the other end is the remains of a hollow terminal socket.  The torc would likely be of a two-piece type, with a decorative beaded throat element complete with socketed ends, and a curved neck bar that would have plugged into the sockets to complete the loop (the socketed ends allowing removal of the torc by the wearer). See also; SWYOR-E0B0B4, DENO-B0A936, SWYOR-D224682 & WREX-83568A as similar period examples.
Category:		Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/bridle-cheek-piece-10890.html Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A copper-alloy toggle-like object of the late Iron Age. It is broken in half, the two pieces having been found separately more than 200 metres apart. It is of circular cross-section with flared ends and an expanded flattened centre, through which there is an elongated slot. On one of the flattened sides, there were originally four square enamel cells in a 2x2 configuration. Traces of enamel in the surviving cells (partial and complete) suggest that they were coloured alternately red and yellow. The square cells are flanked by an incised band of zigzag decoration, beyond which there are two further enamel cells on each end. These cells are petal-shaped, the inner ones containing red enamel, and the outer ones containing yellow. These objects are usually described as cheek-pieces, for fitting to each end of the bridle bit, but their use is, in fact, not certain. They range in length from about 25mm to over 100mm, and may be plain or decorated with enamel. Examples have been excavated from late Iron-Age chariot burials, and it has been suggested that they were used as toggles to link the chariot trace leathers on to the body of the vehicle.
Category:		Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/zoomorphic-vessel-mount-57942.html Mon, 08 Apr 2024 15:46:50 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A cast copper-alloy vessel mount in the form of a three-dimensional animal head. The head has an elongated snout, projecting rounded ears and wide eyes. The curved neck is flat, has a transverse hole placed mid-length, and terminates in a sub-circular base which retains a separate copper-alloy rivet for attachment purposes. The mount would have fitted onto either a separate mounting plate or directly onto the vessel. The moulded features of the head would suggest it represents a boar rather than a bull, which is more common for such mounts of the period. The mount would most likely be one of a matching pair, oppositely attached to the upper side of a vessel such as a bowl, the lipped rim of the bowl being held captive within the animal's throat. The small circular hole in the neck probably held a pendent ring forming a suspended handle to each side. A similar styled mount with integral zoomorphic handle is recorded as YORM-700D19.  For interest and notes, see also; NMS-E51D37 & UKDFD 55287.
Category:		Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/scabbard-chape-57448.html Tue, 20 Jun 2023 15:42:53 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A large sword scabbard chape dating to the Late Iron Age period. The chape is approximately half complete, once having two side arms that were bridged together at the top to create an ovoid open centre. The surviving arm part is decorated with two moulded transverse ridges below a flared terminal, and the base part is decorated with a longitudinal central groove to both sides, which sits within a pair of projecting moulded lips. The inside surface is deeply grooved for attachment purposes and the outer surface has a rich brown patina. The chape would have fitted, likely soldered, onto the end of a sheet-bronze scabbard to protect and strengthen its terminal. See UKDFD 52532 for a scabbard terminal of a style that the chape would have been fitted to, and also UKDFD 20652 & HAMP-B4AF1F, as similar style chapes. The below reference assembles together elaborate openwork chapes from the north of England, all with matching scabbards in the La Tène style, and dated to the later Iron Age period. (Notably recovered from burials at Bugthorpe & Grimthorpe Hillfort, Yorkshire). See British Museum collection; Bugthorpe & Grimthorpe Hillfort swords.
Category:		Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/ring-57410.html Fri, 19 May 2023 16:34:23 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A cast copper-alloy ring, probably dating from the Iron Age to Roman period, although an earlier date is plausible. The ring is generally D-shaped in cross section, with lipped open ends. The internal diameter appears to be consistent, although the outer surface is irregular. The function and dating of simple bronze rings recovered out of a secure context is problematic. Dating is tentatively made on general form related to other recorded examples, as well as overall wear and patination. The object is most likely a ring made for generic employment rather than a purposefully made finger ring, but its exact function remains uncertain. The present consensus believes that these medium sized rings are likely harness or suspension related. See also; UKDFD 56603, KENT-84ED83 & KENT-97DC41 as generally similar.
Category:		Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/pin-57114.html Sat, 07 Jan 2023 11:45:15 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		An incomplete cruciform-headed copper-alloy dress pin dating from the middle Iron Age to early Roman period. The flat head of the pin has four lateral sub-oval knops and a lozenge-shaped centre. Below the head is a waisted spool-shaped section and a plain bead moulding. From the base, a short length of the circular-section shaft survives, and is bent through approximately 90 degrees, but broken on the curve.  The pin is characteristic of a type with origins to the middle Iron Age, see; UKDFD 56066 and associated attachments. The addition of spool and bead mouldings, however, may suggest a later development, or an adaptation of this type incorporating new Roman influence (SF-B827B8). The fact the pin shaft is still sharply curved below the base of the head, however, would appear to confirm its manufacture in Celtic British culture.
Category:		Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/arrowhead-57020.html Sun, 23 Oct 2022 15:30:50 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A small cast copper alloy arrowhead, possibly dating from the Iron Age to Roman period. The head has three projecting fins, equally spaced around a circular central socket with a singular rivet hole for shaft attachment. The head tapers from the hollow socket end to a solid sharp point. Of the period concerned, this small form of tri-finned arrowhead, especially manufactured in copper alloy, would appear to be a very rare artefact found within the British Isles. Due to lack of published and found material, a tentative and broad timeframe has been given. Of what is available to compare with, it is noted that similar examples have been excavated in the Mediterranean and also from Eastern Europe, and date from the Iron Age to Roman period. A similar arrowhead found in Suffolk is recorded on the PAS database; SF-1D1A06. See also UKDFD 48364
Category:		Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

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