File:KENT-E02CD6, A Kentish Anglo-Saxon mid 6th century Disc on Bow Brooch (FindID 768320).jpg

English: An assemblage of grave-goods probably belonging to that of an Anglo-Saxon (Kentish) woman of the late 6th-early 7th centuries (c.575-625 AD). The assemblage was discovered by a metal detectorist, with a follow-up archaeological excavation identifying a number of associated items although no clear grave cut was discernible.

The assemblage contains the following artefacts:

Items found by metal detector:

(a) and (b): Two silver disc-on-bow brooches with garnet inlays

(c) and (d): Two silver pins

(e) Gilded silver disc brooch with garnet inlays

(f) Three copper-alloy shoe-shaped rivets

(g) Copper-alloy 'shield-on-tongue' buckle

(h) Copper-alloy rectangular buckle and copper-alloy strap loop

(i) Box of silver fragments

(j) Iron fragment, found in box with silver fragments

Fragment of bone

Items found by excavation:

(k) Polychrome glass bead

(l) Ceramic fragment

(m) Unidentified iron object

(n) Bag of silver fragments

(o) Silver clasp

Three bags of flint

a) Silver disc-on-bow brooch (KENT-E02CD6)

A mid 6^th century AD silver Anglo-Saxon square-headed brooch, pair to (b), with disc now detached from the bow and the rest of the brooch in two pieces (fresh break). The head is missing most of the left-hand edge but was probably slightly trapezoidal in shape; its maximum surviving width is 45.1mm. At the two lower corners are surviving square flat-cut garnets backed with stamped gold foil; at the upper right corner the garnet has been lost, but there is a surviving square of stamped gold foil. In between the garnets, around all four sides (except where interrupted for the springing of the bow) is a narrow outer border decorated with triangles set alternately and probably originally filled with niello. Within this border is a zone of chip-carved relief Style I ornament, probably originally gilded but now very corroded. The upper, longest edge has two straight ridges running from side to side, and underneath this some very stylised and hard-to read almost-symmetrical Style I ornament. The two side panels each have a central scroll and a curved element at either end, with longitudinal ridges in between; the lower panel, which is interrupted by the bow, contains linear ridges only. Although the Style I is hard to interpret, where it can be seen, it looks identical to that on brooch (b). An inner border of triangular cells arranged to form a zig-zag is within the Style I; some niello survives in some cells here. This inner border should form a complete rectangle, with its lower edge runs above the springing of the bow, but it is now obscured by hard soil concretions.

The centre of the head is filled with an applied rectangular panel made of a plate to which is soldered a very fine (0.3mm diameter) beaded-wire rim. The plate and the wire are both probably made from gold. The rim is overlain by four domed silver rivet-heads which served to fix the plate to the brooch and can be seen on the reverse. The decoration fixed to this plate is largely obscured by hard soil concretions, but where it can be seen is identical to brooch (b); a central circular garnet, now missing, flanked by a pair of keystone garnets, with the field around filled with tiny circles of beaded wire.

On the reverse of the head is a double pin bar lug with the remains of an iron axis bar and spring.

The bow is short and sharply humped, and is decorated with a multiple concentric ridges. On the reverse a rivet can be seen which originally fixed the disc to the bow; a fragment of the silver backplate of the disc survives fixed to the bow. There is some copper-alloy corrosion in this area and it is possible that the rivet was made from copper alloy. The brooch was clearly gilded before the addition of the disc, as the gilding runs across the area on which the disc was mounted.

The detached disc has lost much of its rim and backplate (see description of detached fragments below). The bright gold circular applied plate is 25.0mm in diameter, and is edged with beaded wire. There are three evenly spaced keystone cells on the disc, each backed by stamped gold foil, set around and touching a central empty circular cell. Each of the keystone cells is set with a flat-cut garnet but the circular cell is empty; a detached gold cell filled with a flat-cut, foil-backed garnet survives but is slightly too small for the space, suggesting that it originally had a white surround, perhaps made from chalk or shell. The keystone garnets are surrounded with more fine beaded wire which also runs around the central garnet. Immediately outside this, a row of tiny circles of beaded wire runs around central and keystone garnets, then an outer line of beaded wire. Another similar row of wire circles and line of beaded wire is applied outside this, then the rest of the space is filled with three rows of more tiny beaded-wire circles; similar wire lines divide the innermost row from the outer two. This is subtly different from the design on brooch (b), which has only one border of wire rings and wire lines surrounding the garnets. On the reverse of the disc, the three rivets which secured the gold plate are clearly visible; they are hidden on the front by the garnet settings.

Detached fragments of silver, part of the disc: part of a circular plate with raised rim, gilded on the interior wall, which bears a raised zig-zag rim; the lowered base is broken across a rivet hole. The reverse is highly polished and has a slightly yellowish tinge. Original diameter c. 30mm. Weight 0.7g. There are four other fragments with similar yellowish highly polished reverses and another fragment of rim with zig-zag; total weight 2.3g.

The trefoil foot is broken into two; a tiny stub remains at the base of the bow but it is broken across the footplate upper borders, which are decorated in relief with gilded but corroded Style I animals with curving necks in extra-high relief, wide-open jaws and possible forelegs under their chins. In between these, the brooch is broken at the start of another applied gold plate. This is in the centre of the footplate and is attached by four silver rivets. It is set with a central lozenge-shaped cell, now missing its garnet; above and below this is a drop-shaped cell (apexes towards the lozenge) each set with a flat-cut garnet backed with stamped gold foil. Around the garnets, just visible through the soil concretions, is decoration of tiny beaded-wire circles. The lower edge of the applied plate is bordered with a raised line of alternating triangular cells giving a zig-zag effect. Above this border, to either side is a circular cell set with a flat-cut, foil-backed garnet. Below the level of these garnets, the curved edge of the foot is edged with another raised border of alternating triangular cells.

The base of the foot has a third circular cell, but this has no garnet; instead it is set with a circle of gold, and presumably had an organic element inside and outside the gold ring which has now decayed, the space being now filled with soil. Between this circular cell and the zig-zag border is a zone of chip-carved Style I ornament which is very dirty and corroded and hard to decode.

On the reverse is a long bent-over catchplate, which springs from a ridge that runs from the catchplate to the end of the foot.

Dimensions: Length: 102 mm (total, approx.), Width: 4.1 mm (maximum surviving, at head), Weight of head/bow fragment: 34.2 g, Weight of foot fragment: 16.6 g, Weight of disc with separate garnet-filled circular cell: 4.7 g, Weight of detached silver fragments: 2.3 g and a total weight of: 57.8 g.

b) Silver disc-on-bow brooch (KENT-E0ED21)

A mid 6^th century AD silver Anglo-Saxon square-headed brooch, pair to (a), with disc fixed to the bow, now in two pieces (fresh break). The head is slightly trapezoidal, 48.7mm in maximum width. At each corner is a damaged square recess, and in the lower right corner this contains a surviving square of stamped gold foil; it seems likely that a garnet set over foil has been lost at each corner. In between, around all four sides (except where interrupted for the springing of the bow) is a narrow outer border decorated with a raised zig-zag which was probably originally filled with niello; the cells are not cut right to the edge of the raised border, leaving a short length of reserved metal. Within this border is a zone of chip-carved relief ornament, now rather reddish and probably originally gilded. The upper, longest edge has two straight ridges running from side to side, and underneath this some very stylised and hard-to read almost-symmetrical Style I ornament. The two side panels each have a central scroll and a curved element at either end, with longitudinal ridges in between; the lower panel, which is interrupted by the bow, contains linear ridges only. An inner border of triangular cells arranged to form a zig-zag comes next; some niello survives in some cells here. This inner border forms a complete rectangle, with its lower edge runs above the springing of the bow.

The centre of the head is filled with an applied rectangular panel made of a plate to which is soldered a very fine (0.3mm diameter) beaded-wire rim. The plate is probably made from gold; the beaded wire is a reddish colour and is probably also of gold. The rim is overlain by four domed silver rivet-heads which probably served to fix the plate to the brooch, although these cannot be seen on the (admittedly rather corroded) reverse. The same beaded wire outlines three garnet-filled gilded-silver cells, the central one is circular (missing its garnet) and the two outer are both keystone shapes tapering towards the circle. The flat-cut keystone garnets retain their stamped backing foils. The rest of the field is filled with tiny (0.7mm in diameter) circles of beaded wire.

On the reverse of the head is a double pin bar lug, but there are no traces of the pin bar or pin. There is a lot of white and purple corrosion on the reverse.

The bow is short and sharply humped, and appears to have been cast in one piece with the disc (that is, no rivet can be seen on the very corroded reverse). Below the disc, the bow is decorated with a multiple concentric ridges. The disc is 30.5mm in diameter, and has a rim of alternating triangular cells creating a zig-zag effect. Within this is a circular applied plate, which although dark grey in colour was made from gold; it is edged with beaded wire. There are three evenly spaced keystone cells on the disc, each backed by stamped gold foil, set around and touching a central empty circular cell with the bright gold of the backplate visible at its base. Each of the keystone cells is set with a flat-cut garnet but the circular cell is missing; a detached gold cell filled with a flat-cut, foil-backed garnet survives but is slightly too small for the space, suggesting that it originally had a white surround, perhaps made from chalk or shell. The keystone garnets are surrounded with more fine beaded wire which also runs around the central garnet. Immediately outside this, a row of tiny circles of beaded wire runs around central and keystone garnets, then an outer line of beaded wire. The rest of the space is filled with three rows of more tiny beaded-wire circles.; similar wire lines divide the innermost row from the outer two. This design is subtly different from brooch (a), with fewer and larger beaded-wire circles.

The trefoil foot is broken into two; a tiny stub remains at the base of the bow but it is broken across the footplate upper borders, which are decorated in relief with Style I animals with curving necks in extra-high relief, wide-open jaws and possible forelegs under their chins. In between these, the brooch is broken at the start of another applied plate, allowing the construction to be seen more clearly. This plate is in the centre of the footplate and is clearly made from gold, attached by four silver rivets. It is set with a central lozenge-shaped cell, now empty and with a gold base showing. Above and below this is a drop-shaped cell (apexes towards the lozenge) each set with a flat-cut garnet backed with stamped gold foil. Around the garnets, just visible through the corrosion are panels made from beaded-wire lines soldered to the gold plate, filled with tiny beaded-wire circles. The lower edge of the applied plate is bordered with a raised line of alternating triangular cells giving a zig-zag effect. Above this border, to either side is a circular cell set with a flat-cut, foil-backed garnet. Below the level of these garnets, the curved edge of the foot is edged with another raised border of alternating triangular cells.

The base of the foot has a third circular cell, but this has no garnet; instead it is set with a circle of gold, and presumably had an organic element inside and outside the gold ring which has now decayed. Between this circular cell and the zig-zag border is a zone of gilded chip-carved Style I ornament which is again hard to decode, but which appears to have at least the eyes and brow of a human mask directly above the circular cell with the gold ring.

On the reverse is a long bent-over catchplate, which springs from a ridge that runs the full length of the foot, from the bow via the catchplate to the end of the foot. This is another difference from brooch (a), whose ridge is shorter.

Dimensions: Length: 106 mm (total, approx.), Width: 48.7 mm (maximum, at head). Weight of head/bow fragment: 49.2 g, Weight of detached garnet-set cell: 0.1 g, Weight of foot fragment: 21.9 g and total weight of: 71.2 g

Discussion for brooches a) and b)

Disc-on-bow brooches were a Scandinavian type but variants developed in Kent during the sixth century (Marzinzik 2013, p. 185). Typically they are decorated with cast ornament rather than filigree panels, as is the case here. Square-headed brooches with filigree plates include Stodmarsh 1-2 and Goldstone Cop Street, which has a roundel rather than a separate disc on the bow (Leigh 1980). Brooches with separate discs attached to their bows include examples from Bifrons grave 41 (Godfrey-Faussett 1876, 313-314), Howletts grave 2 (Leigh 1980, pl. 14). Finglesham grave 2 (Leigh 1980, pl. 15) and an unassociated find from Dover (Leigh 1980, pl. 13 and Evison 1987, fig. 64, 37). In general form of the brooch and garnet settings, these brooches provide good parallels for this pair, along with a pair more recently discovered on the Isle of White now missing their discs (British Museum, reg. 2006,0305.1-2; Barry Ager pers. comm.).

The disc-, lozenge-, triangle- and drop-shaped settings decorating the brooches are common on Kentish metalwork of the period.

The technique of soldering filigree onto a gold backplate which is in turn fixed to a cast silver backplate is also found on jewelled disc brooches of 'plated' type (MacGregor and Bolick 1993, 76, where the technique is well-explained). The three-keystone pattern, however, is far more common on the slightly earlier 'keystone' type of jewelled disc brooch which, however, are decorated with Style I ornament in relief rather than filigree panels. Most other disc-on-bow brooches have discs which conform more closely to the 'keystone' type.

The use of annulets as the sole filigree motif can be matched on plated brooches of Avent's (1975) Classes 1, 6 and 7 (e.g. nos. 145 and 146, from Faversham; no. 163, from Dover; and no. 164, from Faversham). Here, however, the filigree panels are narrower and more space is given to an inner ring of cloisonné. A plated brooch of Avent's Class 7 (no. 165, from Faversham)

c) Silver pin (KENT-E15D92)

Silver pin dating to the late 6^th-7^th century AD, with a large flat circular head and circular-section tapering shaft, now broken (fresh break) . The head measures 17.2mm in diameter, and has a nicked edge all around except where the shaft joins the head. It has engraved decoration of four small ring-and-dot motifs, one in the middle and three evenly spaced around the edge (one at the top and two at the lower sides). The three around the edge are all linked to each other by curving double lines, and also similarly to the one in the centre, making a rather irregular circle divided into three. On the reverse is an unusual loop made up of a perforated lug above, now broken through the perforation, and a broken rectangular-section prong sticking out at an angle below. The break here is fresh.

Dimensions: Length: 61 mm (total, approx.), Diameter: 17.2 mm (head), Weight: 3.2 g.

d) Silver pin (KENT-3127A8)

Silver pin with large flat circular head and circular-section tapering shaft dating to the late 6^th-7^th century AD. The head measures 16.6mm in diameter, and has a nicked edge all around except where the shaft joins the head. It has engraved decoration of four small ring-and-dot motifs, one in the middle and three evenly spaced around the edge (one at the top and two at the lower sides). The three around the edge are all linked to each other by curving double lines, and also similarly to the one in the centre, making a rather irregular circle divided into three. On the reverse is an unusual loop made up of a perforated rounded lug above and a broken rectangular-section prong sticking out at an angle below. The break here is fresh.

Dimensions: Length: 61 mm (total, approx.), Diameter: 17.2 mm (head), Weight: 3.5 g

Discussion for pins c) and d)

The loops on the back of these pins suggest they form part of a linked pair. Linked pins form Hines and Bayliss (2013) type PI2-a and Ross (1992) type LXIV, although these pins are not readily paralleled in the pins Ross illustrates within this type. The loops for the linking chain often appear on the top of the pins, as with a set from Lechlade grave 104 (Hines and Bayliss p. 225, fig. 5.213) and another from Evesham (British Museum, reg. 1864,1220.1). Pins with loops behind the pinhead have been found at Lechlade (grave 138: Boyle et al 1998, fig. 5.85:5) and Wickham Market, Suffolk (Portable Antiquities Scheme database SF8221). A single interesting parallel is a silver pin with scutiform head and perforated shaft from Wheatley, Oxfordshire, grave 14, found with saucer brooches (MacGregor and Bolick 1993, no. 31.14).

e) Gilded silver plated disc brooch with garnet inlays (KENT-E11753)

Plated disc brooch made from silver with gold and cloisonné garnet elements. The brooch is built up on a circular silver backplate, which may have had a gold front plate fixed to it. A low upright silver wall is fixed to the backplate and the join covered externally with a 2mm thick silver wire and internally with a c. 1mm thick beaded gilded-silver wire.

The main field is divided up by five flat-cut garnets set in gilded-silver cells, each shaped like a triangle with the corners cut off and orientated with the apexes inwards. Each garnet is backed with stamped gold foil. In between the five garnet-set cells are five gilded-silver pellets 2.8mm in diameter, and the rest of the space is filled with tiny circles (c. 1.5mm diameter) of beaded gold wire.

In the centre is a ring of eight narrow gilded-silver cells (cloisons), all retaining flat-cut garnets over stamped gold foil; one of the garnets has sunk in its cell. These surround an empty circular cell, 8mm in diameter, which reveals a gold plate beneath. A single flat-cut garnet over stamped gold foil in a gilded-silver cell has been detached, and measures 4.5mm in diameter. The wall of this cell has been nicked and spread on the reverse, probably to hold it in position, and a blackish material can be seen beneath the gold foil on the reverse. This setting was presumably originally fixed in the centre of the brooch and would have been surrounded by a ring of white material (perhaps chalk or shell) that has now entirely decayed.

On the reverse are two lugs with rounded ends set along the diameter of the brooch. One is shorter and perforated to take a pin; the perforation is now blocked with iron corrosion. The other lug is longer, and bent over (to the left in the photograph) to form a catchplate.

Dimensions: Diameter: 35.5 mm, Weight: 18.6 g

Discussion of e

This appears to be a plated disc brooch of a type particularly associated with Anglo-Saxon Kent, defined by its construction on a silver backplate, the use of filigree decoration and a ring of cloisonné cellwork surrounding a central setting (Avent 1975, pp. 18-19). These brooches have been categorised by Avent (1975), but this example does not fit easily into any of his classes as defined. The cellwork of the central cloisonné ring is far simpler than most known examples, while the alternating sub-triangular cells and silver pellets surrounding this are also not readily paralleled. The use of filigree annulets to fill the ground of the brooch (and interspersed with settings) is, however, well-matched by brooches from Buckland, Dover grave 126 (Avent 1975, no. 163) and Faversham (Avent 1975, no. 165).

f) Three copper-alloy shoe-shaped studs

All date to the 6^th century.

1. 'Shoe-shaped' stud. One end is semi-circular, then deep semi-circular notches are cut out of the middle of the sides, and the other end is pointed and slightly bent down. The upper surface is undecorated. The reverse has a long rectangular lug, broken at a circular perforation; around the top of the lug is a blackish substance, perhaps leather. The angles are sharp and the object is apparently unworn.

2. 'Shoe-shaped' stud. One end is semi-circular, then deep semi-circular notches are cut out of the middle of the sides, and the other end is pointed and slightly bent down. The upper surface is undecorated and has a high polish. The reverse has a long rectangular lug with a circular perforation 1.75mm in diameter close to the end. The angles are sharp and the object is apparently unworn.

3. 'Shoe-shaped' mount. One end is semi-circular, then deep semi-circular notches are cut out of the middle of the sides, and the other end is pointed and slightly bent down. The upper surface is undecorated and has a high polish. The reverse has a long rectangular lug with a circular perforation 1.6mm in diameter close to the end. The angles are sharp and the object is apparently unworn.

Dimensions:

1. Length: 24.4 mm, Width: 10.8 mm, Thickness: 3.2 mm (of plate at curved end), Thickness: 10.8mm (including incomplete lug) and Weight: 2.8 g
2. Length: 26.2 mm, Width: 11.0mm, Thickness: 3.0 mm (of plate at curved end), Thickness: 11.3 mm (including complete lug) and Weight 3.7g.
3. Length: 26.8 mm, Width: 10.75 mm, Thickness: 2.8 mm (of plate at curved end), Thickness: 10.8mm (including incomplete lug) and Weight: 3.7 g

Discussion of f1-f3

Shoe-shaped studs are one of several acknowledged types of studs associated with early medieval belts, and are found fairly widely across Europe. They are found frequently with shield-on-tongue buckles in early Anglo-Saxon graves, as is the case here too (Marzinzik 2003, p. 62; Hines and Bayliss 2013, p. 139, Type BU2-h); although it is less common for a set of three rivets to be found in a female rather than a male grave (Hines and Bayliss 2013, p. 139).

g) Copper-alloy 'shield-on-tongue' buckle

Copper-alloy buckle with heavy oval frame dating to the 6^th Century AD. The bar is centrally narrowed and circular in cross-section; the rest of the frame is a quarter-circle or D shape in cross-section and has a flattened facet along the top. The copper-alloy pin has a shaft which is D-shaped in cross-section and draped over the outer edge of the frame; it is heavily iron-stained. The base of the pin has an integral 'shield-shaped' plate, with a semi-circular base, deeply incurved sides and a straight top decorated with three fine transverse grooves; the shaft of the pin springs from the centre of this straight end. On the reverse of the 'shield-shaped' plate, the remains of the loop which originally attached the pin to the bar survive, and appear to be corroded iron which is adhering the pin to the frame.

Dimensions:

Length: 20.4 mm, Width: 29.2 mm, Thickness: 13.4 mm and Weight: 24.7 g

Discussion of g

This buckle is of Marzinzik's type I.2 (2003, pp. 19-21) and Hines and Bayliss's type BU2-d (2013, p. 138) dated by Hines and Bayliss to the 6^th century AD. Many have been recovered from early medieval graves in England and on the Continent.

h) Copper-alloy rectangular buckle and copper-alloy strap-fitting

A small copper-alloy buckle with rectangular frame and remains of a copper alloy pin, and a copper-alloy shoe-shaped strap-fitting with a loop at one end, both of which date to the late 6^th century. The strap-fitting is made from two flat, shoe-shaped plates connected by a bar, which had been folded to form the loop at one end. The two plates are riveted together with two surviving rivets. Remains of a leather strap survive sandwiched between them.

Dimensions:

Buckle: Length: 16.1 mm, Width: 15.8 mm and Weight: 4 g

Strap mount: Length: 30.5 mm, Width: 15.6 mm (max) and Weight: 4 g

Discussion of h

The buckle is a derivative of Marzinzik (2003) Type I.6a, differing in the addition of a central bar. Buckles with rectangular loops are almost exclusively found in southern England, as in this case. The diminutive size of this and many buckles with rectangular loops suggests that they were used to fasten knife-sheaths or pouches rather than waist-belts (Marzinzik pers. comm.). The strap-mount follows the shape of shoe-shaped studs such as the three examples also found in this grave (see discussion above).

i), n) and o) Silver fragments and a silver clip

(i) One box containing two bags of silver fragments, mainly flat pieces, some with rivet holes or breaks around suspected rivet holes, some with fluted edges and others comprising narrow pieces of fluted strip.

(n) One bag of silver fragments, the larger pieces curved into a u-shape and showing slight curvature of shape.

(o) A silver clip, also showing a slight curvature of shape. The clip is formed from a u-shaped piece of silver, longer on one side than the other. At each end are two to three vertical moulded ridges pierced by tiny rivets, which continue around the horizontal edge of the clip on the longer side. A small fragment of organic material, probably leather, is retained inside the clip by the rivets.

All dating to the 6^th-7^th century.

Dimensions: of clip Length: 14.58mm, Height: 6.77mm and Weight: 2.0g

Discussion of j, n and o

The combination of foil-like and u-shaped pieces with a riveted clip is suggestive of the components of mounts decorating the rims of luxury Anglo-Saxon drinking vessels, the finest of which derive from the Sutton Hoo ship burial. The probable leather fragment sandwiched inside the silver clip may suggest that the fragments decorated a leather rather than a wooden vessel. Alternatively the fragments may derive from a metal purse frame or mount. Further research would be beneficial.

k) Polychrome glass bead (KENT-E19103)

A globular glass bead with flattened top and bottom, and a circular vertical perforation. In its current condition, the bead is powder blue in colour with a central band of geometric decoration, comprising a lattice of black lines forming diamonds that are coloured green, yellow, red and white. An additional slice of similarly-decorated glass has been inserted into a gap in the bead's circumference, causing the pattern to appear misaligned.

Dimensions: Diameter: 14.53mm, Height: 13.81mm and Weight: 4.5g

Discussion of k

The form and decoration of this bead do not match known Anglo-Saxon types, which have been studied extensively by Brugmann (2004) and Guido and Welch (1999). Its closest parallels appear to lie in the Roman period, in particular types of mosaic bead which have a central band of lattice-like decoration, some with human masks punctuating the decorative band, discovered inside and outside the Roman Empire including in eastern and northern Europe (Saldern 2004, 166; Selling 1942; Stout 1986, 58-59; Paul Roberts pers. comm.). Selling (1942, 24- 32) lists this as Type I and dates them broadly between the first and fourth centuries. Roman beads are not uncommon finds in early Anglo-Saxon graves (White 1988, p. 111 with references) and therefore it seems probable that the bead was originally buried inside the grave.

l) Ceramic fragment

Ceramic fragment, sub-triangular in shape, with a quartz temper and a smooth, black interior surface. The exterior surface has fractured off (Teresa Gilmore pers. comm.).

Dimensions: Length: 22.31mm, Height: 18.82mm and Weight: 2.1g

Discussion of l:

This fragment was discovered in the finder's backfill during the secondary archaeological excavation. Microscopic analysis revealed the possible presence of grog, which would support a Roman date (Lyn Blackmore pers. comm.). Further research once the fragment has been cleaned would prove definitive. Roman pottery fragments are not uncommon finds in Anglo-Saxon graves, and the presence of a probably Roman bead associated with the deposit also supports a possible Roman date for this sherd.

Fragmentary artefacts

Several very fragmentary artefacts were also associated with the grave deposit, and would qualify as Treasure by Association:

j) Iron fragment, found with box of silver fragments (i), discovered by metal-detector. Undiagnostic.

m) Iron fragment, found during archaeological excavation. Undiagnostic.

Fragment of bone: part of a human left parietal bone from an adult skull, gender undiagnostic. Copper staining visible just behind the ear, perhaps from one of the artefacts in the grave. The fragment is quite weathered and relatively poorly preserved, perhaps through being disturbed and rolling in the soil or due to acid soil conditions.

Three bags of flints were also recovered during the archaeological excavation, but these are extremely unlikely to have been part of the grave deposit and therefore can be discounted as Treasure by association.