File:Early medieval unidentified object (x ray views) (FindID 207989).jpg

English: A cast copper alloy unidentified object with remains of extensive iron corrosion, probably dating to the Early Medieval period. Length: 140mm; width at head: 25mm; thickness at head: 24mm; weight: 95.76g.

The artefact is sub-rectangular in plan and D-shaped in side section to the remaining arm. At the probable top/ head of the artefact, there is an extensive amount of iron corrosion to the left and the back (length of corrosion area: 48.5mm; width: see above; thickness: see above), which also encases much of the copper alloy features on the item. To one side of the top/ head, there is an integral cast copper alloy circular recessed area (diameter: 14mm; approximate depth of recessed area: 3.5mm) with the remains of what appears to be red and white enamel inside. A raised circular border surrounds this area (outer diameter of raised border: 16mm) with an additional outer platform border (diameter of outer border: 21.5mm; width of outer border: 3.5mm), which is decorated with eight visible small linear and slightly slanted markings across the width. At the front of the artefact approximately 26mm from the top, there is a slightly raised circular platform (approximate diameter: 14.5mm) with the remains of a possible iron circular rivet in the centre (diameter of possible rivet: 6mm).

Immediately below this circular platform, a long sub-rectangular and D-shaped (in section) slightly curved arm extends outwards by 97mm. The arm is decorated with zoomorphic decoration in the form of two beast’s heads at the top of the arm and at the bottom. The animal’s head at the top (length: 14.5mm; width: 12mm; thickness: 7.5mm) immediately below the circular platform is the largest out of the two and is viewed facing upwards towards the top of the artefact. The beast has ‘n’-shaped prominent ears that protrude upwards from the artefact, as well as having a single incised and slanted line depicting the eyebrows and sub-oval pointed eyes. Additionally, there are two parallel incised lines running in between the eyes, which may indicate the animal’s nose. Lastly, there also appear to be approximately eight small incised markings to either side of the nose and below the eyes, which continue beyond a ridge to appear immediately below the circular platform. Underneath this head, the main length of the arm is decorated with incised linear markings occurring lengthwise, although these markings are separated by recessed or raised areas. The first recessed area (length: 10mm; width: 10mm; thickness: 5.5mm) has approximately eight lines as well as one incised line across the width halfway down. Below this area, the arm raises by 1mm to form a rectangular platform (length: 31mm; width: 11mm; thickness: 6mm) with two parallel incised linear markings across the width at the top and approximately ten incised lines down the length below, with the central line being more deeply incised than the rest. The bottom of this platform terminates in a ‘^’ formation. The same decoration then continues on a slightly lower rectangular platform (length: 21.5mm; width: 9.5mm; thickness: 6mm) with approximately ten slightly curved incised lines occurring lengthwise with a single raised band across the width towards the bottom. The second slightly smaller animal’s head (length: 13mm; width: 9mm; thickness: 6.5mm) is situated below this last decorated platform and has similar features to the other example near the top of the artefact. The ears, however, are not as prominent although they are still ‘n’ in shape. The slanted eyebrows and sub-oval pointed eyes are also present but the nose is less identifiable. There also appear to be further small linear markings on both sides of the face. Lastly, there is a circular knob at the tip of the arm (diameter: 5mm).

At the top of the back of the arm, the artefact appears to be broken immediately below the head at the point where the largest animal’s head appears on the front. The break occurs at 47mm in length from the probable top of the artefact (width at break: 16mm; thickness of broken section: 6mm). The broken area also appears to be iron when viewed from the broken section and it may be the remains of a similar arm to that at the front. Overall, the artefact is in a worn and corroded condition with a light green patina where the item is made of copper alloy. Additionally, it is difficult to distinguish some of the features/ decoration on this artefact as a result of the item probably being coated in a substance, which also makes the surface appear very shiny.