File:Early-Medieval Sword Pommel (FindID 251464).jpg

English: Finds from a ploughed Anglo-Saxon cemetery site. Treasure case no. 2009 T177. Addenda to Treasure cases: 2004 T187, 2006 T62, 2007 T203 and 2008 T321.

This group of 16 finds form an addendum to Treasure cases 2004T187; 2006T62; 2007T203; and 2008T32, since they derive from the same ploughed-out Anglo-Saxon cemetery site. They comprise both precious metal and non-precious metal fragments and they have been listed in two sections below: A, precious metal; and B, non-precious metal. The non-precious metal items may also be regarded as potential Treasure by probable grave association with either the precious metal objects, or with similar material previously reported and subsequently acquired by the British Museum. The numbers in brackets below refer to the original finds list.

A. Precious metal finds - silver

1 (1). Silver half fragment of a sword pommel of cocked-hat form, of Menghin's Bifrons-Gilton type with two lugs pierced for rivets and a raised tongue shape on the shoulder with two diagonal scrolls and remains of nielloed interlocked triangles across the base of the 'tongue'. One side of the pommel is plain with a row of beading along the base, while on the other there is a rough pattern of intersecting grooves; length, 24 mm; weight, 10.0 g (W. Menghin, 1983, Das Schwert im Frühen Mittelalter, Stuttgart, pp. 312-315, Karte 2; S. Fischer et al., 2008, Les Seigneurs des Anneaux, Bulletin de liaison de l'Association française d'Archéologie mérovingienne, hors série no. 2, Condé-sur-Noireau). It joins the pommel fragment previously reported - 2008T321(19).

2 (2). Silver half fragment of a sword pommel of cocked hat form, also of Menghin's Bifrons-Gilton type, with two dome-headed rivets flanking a dummy rivet across the end and three interlocking, tear-shaped hollows on the shoulder framed by lines of small, interlocking nielloed triangles. The hollows on the shoulder and horizontal grooves along the base on one side are gilded. On one side of the pommel is part of a pattern of nielloed arcs, lines and a triangle, while traces of a different pattern survive on the other; a framed saltire is engraved on the top; length, 27 mm; weight, 5.9 g.

3 (14). Silver-gilt fragment of the bow and upper end of the foot-plate of a miniature square-headed brooch with a central mid-rib decorated with a line of joined-up nielloed triangles; length, 18 mm; weight, 1.7 g.


B. Non-precious metal finds

Note: surface metal analysis conducted at the British Museum has established the metal of items 7, 9 and 11 below as high-tin bronze, an alloy of copper with no detectable precious metal.

4 (3). Copper-alloy scrap from a (?saucer) brooch with traces of gilding and grooved decoration and a damaged lug for a pin on the back; length, 17 mm.

5 (5). Copper-alloy, D-shaped buckle loop of plano-convex section; height, 32 mm.

6 (6). Copper-alloy, D-shaped buckle loop; height, 24 mm.

7 (7). High-tin bronze fragment of buckle loop; very corroded; length, 29 mm.

8 (8). Copper-alloy, oval buckle loop of circular section; height, 32 mm.

9 (9). High-tin bronze fragment of D-shaped buckle loop of plano-convex section; very corroded; length, 32 mm.

10 (10). Copper-alloy small D-shaped buckle loop; corroded; height, 19 mm.

11 (11). High-tin bronze fragment of buckle loop of plano-convex section; very corroded; length, 24 mm.

12 (12). Copper-alloy fragment of buckle loop; corroded; height, 30 mm.

13 (13). Copper-alloy button brooch with gilding surviving in the hollows of the face-mask decoration and the rim missing; diameter, 18 mm.

14 (15). Copper-alloy narrow C-shaped buckle loop; corroded; height, 35 mm.

15 (16). Copper-alloy C-shaped buckle loop; corroded and hinge-bar missing; height, 28 mm.

16 (17). High-tin bronze tongue with basal shield from a buckle; length, 29 mm.

The first three finds from the West Wight site date from around the late 5th to 6th century AD and would therefore qualify as Treasure under two of the stipulated criteria of the Treasure Act: they are more than 300 years old and the precious metal content of exceeds 10%. The non-precious metal finds would also qualify as Treasure by probable grave association with precious-metal finds.