https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/templates/general_wide/img/logo.png https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/early-medieval/miscellaneous.html https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/early-medieval/miscellaneous/tweezers-58873.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 20:24:51 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A pair of copper-alloy tweezers of uncertain date. The tweezers have been cut and formed from sheet, and have parallel-sided arms. The arms are decorated with crudely incised oblique lines along their full length and with multiple notches along the sides at the grip end. They are arched and angled inwards towards the tip at the jaw end and have sustained some distortion. Note Dating tweezers with very basic or no decoration is problematic. It is worth noting that similar multiple notches to those on the sides of the present tweezers are often found on artefacts of the late Early Medieval period (circa 8th-11th century), e.g. strap fitting, UKDFD 38222 and strap-end, UKDFD 47906.
Category:		Early Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/early-medieval/miscellaneous/pommel-58644.html Tue, 03 Jun 2025 14:37:24 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A very small and unusual cast copper-alloy pommel, most likely from a dagger of the Early Medieval period. In plan, the pommel is generally of elongated oval shape, but it is stepped at approximately one-third of its height such that the upper portion is narrower and shorter. Viewed from the front, the lower portion is parallel with a flat base and rounded ends, and the upper portion is of shallow triangular form. The underside of the pommel is hollow with a cored hole through the centre for the tang of the blade. The tang would have projected through the apex of the pommel and been peened to secure it. Iron corrosion products from the tang are present on both the top and the underside of the pommel. The identification and dating of this object are very tentative as no close parallel has been traced.
Category:		Early Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/early-medieval/miscellaneous/discoidal-dress-accessory-57994.html Thu, 09 May 2024 12:44:17 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A chip-carved and gilded discoidal object dating to the middle Anglo-Saxon period. The object is moulded in the form of an equal-armed cross with axe-shaped arms conjoined at the tips, and elliptical openwork in the angles. The front of each arm has a raised border and is decorated with an Insular style interlace design in sunken relief. At the centre of the cross there is a circular boss and concentric ring. The back face of the object is flat and undecorated. The outer ends of two opposing arms of the cross have broken off and are now missing. The object is most likely part of a dress accessory or item of jewellery (e.g. a disc-headed pin or pendant), the means of attachment or suspension of which have been lost with the broken ends of the arms. The design is closely similar to that of one of the three discoidal pinheads on the 'Witham linked triple pin set' in the British Museum collection. Cf. PAS: SWYOR-4E63BF
Category:		Early Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/early-medieval/miscellaneous/pendant-57806.html Mon, 15 Jan 2024 21:36:56 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A small silver-gilt pendant dating to the late Anglo-Saxon period. The body is sub-cylindrical, with short slotted tabs at the base and a separately soldered top with worn and incomplete suspension loop. Decoration is irregularly hand engraved, consisting radiating lines around the suspension loop and vertically placed lines of differing lengths forming inverted triangles around the body. Two circumferential bands near the base are also engraved, the lower one being rope-effect in appearance. Inside the hollow body is what appears to be a white uniform substance, possibly a woven textile. The pendant is of a type associated with Viking period jewellery, often generically described as 'Elfshot', and would have once held a stone, crystal or other colourful mineral. The fabric-like material within the body is most likely a piece of woven cloth coated with a cement to retain the insert. The slotted tabs, once crimped at the base, would further help secure both parts together.
Category:		Early Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/early-medieval/miscellaneous/catch-hook-57749.html Fri, 01 Dec 2023 20:20:09 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A small copper alloy hooked catch dating to the early medieval period. The catch is D-shaped in profile, with a flat circular attachment loop at one end and a flat hook opposite. The central bar is decorated with eight moulded transverse ribs along the length. The back is undecorated. The catch is of a type that has been found in female graves of the period and is thought to have been employed for securing a wooden casket lid or possibly acting as a leather bag clasp. See; SF5271, SF-1B7942, SF-5B6E2C & CAM-3FB1A5 as generally similar examples.
Category:		Early Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/early-medieval/miscellaneous/decorated-fragment-28866.html Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A gilt foliate object that is decorated in the *Winchester Style of the late Anglo-Saxon period. The fragment consists a front and back plate, the front having deeply moulded acanthus leaf decoration. Much of the gilt finish remains intact. The use is presently uncertain. *The Winchester Style is a naturalistic decorative form, arising at the end of the Anglo-Saxon period. It artfully defines Christianity and creation with inspirational use of animals and flora. The Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Alfred's Wessex was centred in Winchester, and finds of the style have been recovered regionally giving the art form its classification.
Category:		Early Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/early-medieval/miscellaneous/sword-pommel-57324.html Sat, 15 Apr 2023 13:28:51 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		An Anglo-Saxon cast copper-alloy sword pommel of the 'cocked hat' type. The pommel is rectangular in plan and trapezoidal in profile with incurved sides and extended flat ends. It is hollow within and has a rectangular aperture at the top. The corners of the four incurved sides have been bevelled progressively from both top and bottom such that they create lenticular facets, but the pommel is otherwise undecorated.
Category:		Early Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/early-medieval/miscellaneous/girdle-hanger-fragment-57065.html Mon, 28 Nov 2022 21:03:52 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		The partial remains of a girdle hanger dating to the early Anglo-Saxon period. The upper part of the stem is triangular in cross section, the looped suspension element having broken off. Raised moulding and a collar of transverse grooving separates it from the lower part of the stem, which appears to be of shallow triangular section. There are a series of centrally stamped dots along the length of both parts. Girdle hangers were worn by women in the pagan period. They were suspended from the belt (girdle) in pairs, and had the appearance of an elaborate form of key. It is believed that they were decorative rather than functional, and possibly symbolised the marital status of a woman. A more complete girdle hanger of generally similar type is recorded as UKDFD 21325.
Category:		Early Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/early-medieval/miscellaneous/pressblech-die-56975.html Sun, 09 Oct 2022 14:26:50 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A cast rectangular pressblech die dating to the early Anglo-Saxon period. The overall design to the surface consists of a radiating star form within a semi-circular frame with rope-work edges, all tooled in high relief. The back is flat and undecorated. (Image 5 shows the die's design pressed into tin foil.) Pressblech dies were used to produce decorative gold, silver or copper repoussé sheet foils, which were then mounted onto larger items. The word ’pressblech’ (German: press sheet-metal) is used to describe the artefacts produced as well as the dies used to produce them. Regarding dating, the design, albeit a simple one, closely resembles the semi-circular and geometric patterns applied to Frankish radiate-headed brooches of the period, See; UKDFD 27739, KENT-CC01C4 & NMS-2B456A. For further examples of period dies that display more elaborate tooling, see UKDFD 53, UKDFD 49636, UKDFD 1901 & LIN-490483.
Category:		Early Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/early-medieval/miscellaneous/strap-fitting-56816.html Fri, 06 May 2022 12:34:01 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A silver strap fitting dating to the Anglo-Saxon period. The narrow singular plate is folded into a U-shape that is flat at the top and tapers in its length to a pointed round terminal. There are two holes at each end, the narrow end retaining a lead rivet. Decoration to the face consists of a small panel below the top edge depicting an engraved animal inspired by Trewhiddle form. The object could possibly be a distorted strap-plate, or purposefully folded and employed as a small suspension type fitting similar to SUR-88E3EB & SF-72D32C.
Category:		Early Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

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