File:Medieval Mount with Integral Rivets (FindID 766224).jpg

English: A Post-Medieval, c. seventeenth century, copper-alloy mount with two integral lugs, one of which has since broken off.

The central zone has a convex upper surface and concave reverse, and has a sub-oval veering to tear-drop shape. This central zone accounts for c. 24.2mm of the total length, has a maximum width of 22.0mm and thickness of 4.9mm. The upper surface seems to have originally been smooth but is now covered in shallow pitting, probably due to wear either during use or slight damage once in the soil or alternatively due to the start of corrosion.

Integral to the mount at the more pointed end is an oval to sub-rectangular knop with convex upper surface. This has a width of 10.2mm, accounts of c. 8.2mm of the total length and has a thickness of 3.4mm. The reverse surface seems to be flat. On the reverse surface is a blob of what appears to be corrosion, first sight of which might be mistaken for the remains of a rivet. Close inspection confirms that there was no separate rivet in this area and it is so close to the location of the now missing rivet it seems unlikely that another rivet was ever positioned here. The small blob may instead be a small area of corrosion either of this artefact or something else mineralising in the ground next to the mount. A description of the upper surface of this knop is given below.

Integral to the mount at the wider end is a triangular knop with rounded corners. This knop has a width of 14.0mm, accounts for c. 10.5mm of the total length and has a thickness of 4.2mm. This knop has a convex upper surface and concave reverse surface. The upper surface of both of the knops is decorated with, four on each, grooves splaying out from the central zone to the tip of the knop.

An integral rivet is positioned at the top and bottom of the central zone on the reverse surface. One of these rivets has broken off close to the reverse surface. The surviving rivet has a sub-square cross-section measuring 2.6mm x 2.7mm at the base and then tapers to a point. The rivet curves over towards the centre of the mount. It has a length of approximately 7.5mm so would have a total length slightly greater than that if straightened out.

The mount weighs 9.54g and has a total length of 42.6mm.

See Read, B., 2001 Metal artefacts of antiquity: A catalogue of small finds from specific areas of the United Kingdom Langport : Portcullis Publishing, pp.28 & 36, fig.21, no.308.

Cuddeford, M.J., 1992 Identifying Metallic Small Finds Ipswich : Anglia Publishing, pp.34 & 39, nos. 67 & 70-71.