File:A copper alloy mount or fitting dating from the medieval period. (FindID 286970).jpg

English: A copper alloy mount or fitting dating from the medieval period. The object has a zoomorphic terminal in the form of a dog’s head similar to those seem on ewer spouts. There is a deliberate and original bend in the neck of almost ninety degrees, as if the head was tipped back to look upwards. The body is pentagonal in section and thickens towards the end where it is broken. The break falls across a large hole running through the body from top to bottom. The bottom of the body at this pint is recessed as if the mount fitted onto a rectangular bar or similar. There is a double row of punched dots on each of sides, but not the top or bottom extending along the complete length of the mount. It has a dark brown patina. It is 48.8mm long, 9.9mm wide and 10.5mm thick. It weighs 17.16gm. This object fits best into a group of enigmatic dragon-shaped objects which probably date to the 12th century. However, this example is slightly different as most have a right-angled peg extending from the underside, a second rivet hole through the body (and one in the tail), and a transverse hole through the head. NLM-CA23E3 is another example without a hook, but it and the others also tend to have decoration consisting of incised lines suggesting scales or wings. The dotted decoration on this example makes it appear much more mammalian than reptilian. SWYOR-761334 has references to other example such as SF-8E6271, LIN-D6F2C2, LIN-4F65C5, NLM5639, NMS-249246 and SF-1EADD4. Some have been published in ‘Medieval Britain and Ireland 2004’ in Medieval Archaeology 2005. A published parallel for these objects has not yet been found, and their function is uncertain. It seems likely that they may be box or vessel fittings.