File:2012T29, early medieval copper alloy and silver mount (FindID 481116).jpg

English: Description: The mount consists of a silver sheet disc riveted to a bronze base-plate of similar diameter with a sub-triangular projection at each quadrant; width, 46.2mm (max). The disc is folded round the edges of the base-plate, except at the projections, where it is cut roughly straight across.

The disc is divided into four decorated fields by a plain cruciform frame, which expands at the ends of the arms into arcs joining a plain border. The centre of the crossing and the end of each of the arms were originally pierced by silver rivets to secure decorative bosses and attach the mount to another object, but one rivet at one of the ends and all the bosses are now missing. Each of the decorative fields is engraved with a contorted, back-turned animal in the mainly 9th- century Late Saxon Trewhiddle Style, with its tail crossing the body and distinctive double nicks on neck and body. The animals are arranged in two opposed pairs. The base-plate and the four projections are somewhat pitted by corrosion.

Analysis: Surface metal analysis conducted at the British Museum identified the white metal as a silver alloy with approximately 93% silver, 5% copper. 1.5% gold and 1% lead. The corroded backing plate is bronze (an alloy of copper and tin) with other trace impurities present. The decorated silver plate is inlaid with niello. The mount weighs 25.77 grams.

Discussion: The mount belongs to the same type of fitting as a hollow-sided, lozenge-shaped mount of copper alloy and decorated in the same style from Bawburgh, Norfolk (H. Geake, ed., 2002, 'Portable Antiquities Scheme', Medieval Archaeology, 46, 128-145, fig. 3a). They may be strap-distributors, possibly from horse-harness.

Date: The mount is dated broadly to the 9th century by its use of the Trewhiddle style.