Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

An interesting series of objects were found within Anglo Saxon graves in Dover. The objects include 4 certain strap ends, one of which is highly decorative, other objects within the collection have an uncertain use but again are highly decorative and were likely used for personal ornamentation, possibly on belts as they possess on their reverses rivets by which they were fastened to the leather. Their exact location is unknown but Anglo Saxon Graves are known to exist on Priory Hill in Dover. (location accurate to the nearest 100m based on available information)

Monument Types

• FINDSPOT (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD? to 1065 AD?)

Associated Finds

• JEWELLERY (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD? to 1065 AD?)
• STRAP END (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)

Full description

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(Summarised from source)

George Payne Esq. writes: ‘during work arranging the Kent Archaeological Societies collections in Maidstone Museum I discovered an interesting series of objects that were found within Anglo Saxon graves in Dover’. The objects include 4 certain strap ends, one of which is highly decorative and has a sunken panel in the centre with a gilt braided design in relief, at the top there is evidence of a break which has been repaired with a rivet, it has triangular compartments either side of the central braided design each of which are filled with gold. The other examples are similar but of a simpler form. Other objects within the collection have an uncertain use but again are highly decorative and were likely used for personal ornamentation, possibly on belts as they possess on their reverses rivets by which they were fastened to the leather. These objects include decorative fish, birds and cruciforms, many of which are of either bronze, gold, silver or are gilded. None are more than 10 cm in length. Their exact location is unknown but Anglo Saxon Graves are known to exist on Priory Hill in Dover. (1)

<1> G. Payne, 1894, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of London. Thursday 10th of May 1894. Vol 15, PSA 2 15 1893-5 178-181 (G Payne) (Article in serial). SKE32128.

Sources and further reading

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