Technical details design and manufacturing techniques Type ll

TECHNICAL DETAILS TYPE II

Figure 13

Type II North Leigh (Oxfordshire) with repousse body and incised lid decorations.

Not to Scale

Although the eight boxes in this classification are notably different in appearance from one-another they have characteristics in common to enable them to be classified together. All share some features with Type l boxes in that they are manufactured from copper-alloy sheet metal between 0.75 mm and 1.00 mm in thickness the lid and base assemblies are constructed in the same manner. Additionally, all have a suspension flange projecting from one side of their body and hinged lid. Four, Burwell Grave 42, Burwell Village, Dover Bucklands Grave 107 and North Leigh have a rigid sheet metal suspension flange those from Cuxton Grave 306, Sibertswold Down Grave 60, Stand Low and St. Mary's Stadium Grave 4202 have a cast or wrought pivoting flange.

Type ll boxes demonstrate the skill and design capabilities of the Anglo-Saxon metal craftsmen, evidenced by the complexity of individual components necessary to complete them. Each box represents many hours of work, the Burwell Grave 42 box may have taken days rather than hours to complete such is the artistic detail. The time consuming and unique appearance taken to manufacture every Type ll boxes demonstrates that the women who owned a box could possibly have had a significant social status within their community.

Design and Manufacturing Techniques

The principal characteristics of the insular Type ll boxes is either a pivoting or rigid suspension flange projecting from one side of the body (Figure 14) and a hinged lid assembly; yet each is different in appearance, physical dimensions, and iconography. Their design appears to have been influenced by Frankish containers with suspension flanges and hinged lids. Eight boxes are recorded (Table 1), other than the North Leigh box (Leeds 1940, 21-30) all were found in a crushed, fragmented, and fragile condition. That from Burwell village recovered from plough soil is badly damaged and initially appeared to be missing component parts, later the lid top, body base and suspension flange were located separated from the box body, possibly an indication that the box had been taken apart prior to deposition? A Type l box from Wolverton Grave 2005 is recorded as possibly being deconstructed before burial.

That all were designed before construction, is evidenced by careful measurement and metal shaping required to construct individual sub-components prior to final assembly, and repousse and die struck decorations. Made from copper-alloy sheet metal and manufactured in a similar manner to Type l using the same tools and construction methods. Further, boxes from Cuxton Grave 306, Sibertswold Grave 60 (Faussett 1856, 112, pl. Xlll, fig. 8), Stand Low (Bateman 1848,74) and the St. Mary's Grave 4202 (Birbeck et al 2005, 33, figs. 17-18) have a wrought or cast pivoting flange. Every Type ll box demonstrate an advanced standard of design, workmanship, and mechanical knowledge, especially those with a pivoting flange.

The purpose of a movable flange enables a box to rotate one hundred and eighty degrees through its horizontal plane. This action relates to the physical use associated with the boxes, which, when suspended from a belt or chatelaine adjusts to body movements, they would have been more comfortable than the rigid flange models which were inflexible bumping on hips and upper thighs. It is difficult to understand or explain how the makers of the four boxes came to feature a pivoting flange? The location of the two Kentish sites 50 km apart may indicate the same maker or that they were made in the same workshop. With Stand Low to St. Mary's 290 km and Cuxton to St. Mary's 165 km apart it is difficult to argue the same scenario. It appears unlikely they were developed independently yet they employ similar manufacturing methods, this suggests knowledge transfer through cultural or trading contact between these dispersed areas. Whilst each suspension flange serves the same function, all are different in appearance to one another and those decorated display a unique pattern.

Type ll boxes with the exception of the St. Mary's, Burwell Grave 42 and the lid top assembly from Burwell Village they are decorated in repousee punch dots. Although the Dover Bucklands Grave 107 (Evison 1987, 106-108, fig. 48) (Plate 2) body is undecorated both lid top and body base carry a quincunx formed by large bosses. The Burwell Village base assembly is decorated with incised Style ll iconography, furthermore the folded flange (Figure15) displays what appears to be a fish or sea creature. The Burwell Grave 42 box (Lethbridge 1928, fig. A) (Figure 16) the most highly decorated of all Types of boxes demonstrates a remarkable combination of metal craftsmanship and artistic detail, and hardened wood die punches were used to reproduce the figural fight scenes on the lid top and body base and the somewhat clumsy predatory bird heads on the flange. Gibson (2015, 156-157) argued that the scenes depicting a battle between a warrior and a dragon are the earliest narrative of the Beowulf poem. Cuxton Grave 306 box (Figure 17) is an exceptional artefact. Displaying leaf like crosses on lid top and body base, a saltire in repousse on its body on the flange is an explicit incised Christian gospel scene. North Leigh box (Figure 18,19), displayed at the Ashmolean Museum is in a remarkable condition. Like the Cuxton Grave 306 box it displays two forms of iconography, body with a block like pattern in repousse, its lid top incised with a expanded terminal cross and crudely styled interlacing under each cross arms. The now lost Stand Low box (Plate 3) is distinguished by its hinged suspension flange wrought or cast in the shape of a serpents or snakes head a very impressive example off workmanship and artistic skill. Unlike Type l, Type ll boxes can be seen as prestigious and ostentatious objects, expressed in every aspect of design, complexity of manufacture and individual iconography. Unlike Type l boxes none are evident in sub adult or children's graves.

Five of the seven extant Type ll boxes (St. Mary's Stadium undecorated) carry cruciform symbol(s). The incised fish or serpent on the Burwell village flange shares an affinity with what is considered to be a gold arm from a Christian cross included in the Staffordshire hoard (Fern, Dickinson and Webster 2019, fig 2.78,102-103). This when combined with the explicit Christian graffito on the Cuxton Grave box 306 supports the view that Type ll boxes were specifically manufactured as Christian objects, functioning as accessories in worship and ceremony. They should not be identified as female secular household items.

Figure 14 Suspension Flange Type II

[a] Standlow [b] Dover Docklands Grave 107 [c] Sibertswold Grave 60 [d] North Leigh [e] Burwell Grave 42 [f] Cuxton Grave 306 [g] Saint Mary’s Stadium Grave 4202

BURWELL VILLAGE - CAMBRIDGESHIRE/SUFFOLK

PAS SF-686A1F Suffolk County Council Archaeology Service.

Figure 15

The most recent find, a much-damaged incomplete copper-alloy Type ll; c52mm diameter x 55mm in height recovered from a field located on the Suffolk/ Cambridgeshire County border. The box yet to be fully illustrated has an incised Style ll zoomorphic decoration around its body, this appears similar to that on the Type l box from Ascot-under-Wychwood Oxfordshire (Blair and Hills,2020), additionally a single scratch cruciform shape is evident among the decorative motifs.

The once circular metal fragments from the lid top and body base were located a distance away from the box body. Each has identical incised decorations a single groove around their periphery with two further concentric grooves forming three circular zones, two are decorated with double strand sinuous non-animal interlacing, the area between the loops appear to be cross hatched, these zones terminates on a undecorated centre circle. The interlaced art appears irregular and constricted, it lacks the flowing style usually associated with this type of decoration. This could imply the maker was unfamiliar with this type of artistic composition? A feature of these fragments is the accurately formed shallow incised rings. So precise, to initially suggest these were lathe turned. A more likely explanation is that they were formed by the use of a low technical method still in use today to produce circles and arcs a 'fixed centre pin devise'. This is a narrow flat piece of wood or metal with a row of holes spaced centrally along its length. A fixed centre pin is located in the end hole, a sharp scriber is placed in a hole corresponding to the circle diameter required and rotated around inscribing the metal.

The incised rectangular flange radiused at one end found detached from the box body, when unfolded is c W 30mm x c L 70mm, made from two pieces of 0.07 mm sheet metal riveted together, and originally attached by six rivets to the box body. When recovered the radiused D -shaped end was so tightly folded back on itself in alignment to conclude that this action was carried out by human intervention.

Figure 15

Burwell Village incomplete Type ll decorative flange

5

centimetres

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This leaves two alternatives, either it was folded still attached to the box on deposition, plough action then detached it from the box. A more likely explanation is that the box for whatever reason was taken apart prior to burial (if there is a burial), the flange together with the lid top and body base were then deposited separately. The flange with a single rivet still in place, is decorated on both sides with twin outline rectangular borders of repousse inside this against a hatched background is what can be described as the head of an open mouthed fish. The iconography on the flange shows an outline resemblance to two artefacts from the Staffordshire Hoard. Firstly, the great gold cross (Fern, Dickinson, and Webster, 2019 catalogue number 539). On each transverse arm are two entwined zoomorphic serpents (ibid figures 2.74, 3.42, 5.12). Their head shapes display a remarkable likeness to those on the box flange. The other, the gold or gold sheeted "inscribed strip" with a Latin biblical inscription on both sides, termed by Fern as a "Certain Christian object" (ibid 205, figure 2.78 catalogue number 540). Located at one end of the strip is a cast gold D-shaped gem setting flanked by intertwined serpents. The other end has a straight edge, incised on both sides is the head of a fish which other than a cross emerging from its mouth can be compared to those on the Burwell Village flange and the great cross. The head shape on all three artefacts are so alike to conclude they were not separate individual inspiration, this could indicate that their construction had been authorised either by a controlling high-status elite, contact between workshop(s) or familiarity between metal working artisans? This is supported in that they are not only complementary, but also originally from the same region.

A further example from the Anglian Region of a creature with "open jaws" referred to by the excavator as "a dragon" (Lethbridge 1927, 88), is evident in the Beowulf poem fight scene (Gibson forthcoming) on the lid top and body base of a Type ll relic box found in Grave 42 at the Burwell (Cambridgeshire) cemetery is an indication the maker had a close association with those noted above.

The dating evidence on the two objects from the hoard is c610-c650 (Fern, Dickinson and Webster, 2019, table 6.1) indicates they are within the time frame as that from Burwell and other relic boxes c630-c690 (Bayliss and Hines, 2013 table 7.1). The physical presence of a cross on a battlefield and a relic box within a community suggests both were visual sacred objects representing the abstract faith of the Christian religion. They are irrevocably, linked together, in ecclesiastical function, iconographical art and time, further all are considered to have originated from East Anglia.

Christian Fish Symbols?

The interpretation above that the Burwell Village decorative flange and the comparison made to the figures on the Staffordshire Hoard inscribed strip (540) could be considered contentious. as a "fish" Other term them either as "beasts" (Fern, Dickinson and Webster 2019, 102) or "fish creatures" (ibid, fig. 285).

The fish has long been symbolically associated with the Christian religion. As an iconic representative they are frequently mentioned in both the Old and New Testament (e g. Jonah 1:17, Luke 9: 3-17). Fern et al illustrate a carved stone step from Poitiers France (ibid, fig 2.85) showing two fish, one with a cross in its mouth.

A further example can be seen on a stone decorative funerary panel from Luxor Egypt (Dectot,2013 MNC 1418,10) now at the Louvre Museum Lens. Carved in relief is an open mouth fish with an adjacent an expanded terminal cross. Closer to home, an example from Cuxton Kent Grave 306 (Figure 20), a Type lll copper-alloy box reused as a Christian reliquary, possibly of Byzantine origin (Blackmore et al, 2006,17-19). Among other crudely incised Christian symbols is a biblical scene of Golgotha. The box displays three pictorial representations of the sacred hill with three Latin crosses on top, the centre cross is taller than the others, within this hill interior the scene is repeated. From the side of one hill a fish emerges with a Latin cross protruding from its open mouth. Finally, included in the Staffordshire Hoard is a small openmouthed fish shaped cloisonné garnet mount (Catalogue number 513), this could have been attached to a Christian object?

These examples represent an allegorical connection to the Christian faith, possibly evoking the Greek rebus for fish.

Grave 42 BURWELL - CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Figure 16

Inhumation cemetery discovered in 1884 when labourers digging for lime found human remains and grave goods. Site excavated 1925-1929, 125 burials are recorded 92 adults,33 children. A Type l box from Grave 121 is recorded in Section l.

This, the most highly decorated of all recorded boxes found in a worn, repaired, and fragile condition. Gibson (2015 and forthcoming) argued the reliquary was originally made as a Type l box and at a later stage altered to a Type ll by the addition of the flange that overlies the body decorations and a hinged lid. This could imply that the lid top and body base are a later feature, even so, this would not alter the date of deposition. Lethbridge (1927, 88) considered the scene depicted on the lid top and body base could represent either Beowulf or Siguard the legendary dragon slayers. It is an exceptional, important and overlooked example of Anglo-Saxon metal work and artistic application.

The outstanding feature of the relic box relates to the impressive Salin Style ll zoomorphic decorations on the lid ring, body and flange and the quite remarkable figurative arrangement displayed on the lid top and body base. Metal dies were used to stamp zoomorphic decorations on both lid ring and body, individual carved bone or fire hardened wooden punches used to reproduce the heroic dragon fight on the lid top and body base and opposing birds' heads on either side of the flange. The lid ring has three rectangular bead bordered panels each with interlaced looped, back biting, spotted reptilian creatures. The body also has three bead die impressed bordered panels each showing an interlaced scaly back-biting, sinuous opened mouth serpent or worm-like creature with elongated curved jaws and coiled back feet. These can be compared to those on the seventh century silver-gilt sword pommel from Crundale Down (Kent) (Speake 1981, fig 14f), (Webster, 2012, fig.44). In contrast on each side of the flange are crude versions of opposing predatory birds' heads shown in profile. The importance of the reliquary to Anglo-Saxon archaeology and to the composition of the poem Beowulf lies in the theatrical encounter on the lid top and body base. These are unique in Anglo-Saxon artistic improvisation, not because they demonstrate precision workmanship, but for what is depicted in a naive decorative style. Each is stamped with an unusual equal-armed waisted cross positioned around a central rosette. Inside each quarter is, or what was intended to be a narrative representing a warrior; a heroic figure armed with a seax or sword, slaying a prostrate creature which can be described as a dragon. During the process of embossing the raised non-metallic punch deteriorated. As a result, only one scene on each component was complete, the others are debased and jumbled, nevertheless they can be recognised as being struck from the now fragmenting punch.

Figure 16

Burwell (Cambridgeshire) Grave 42 Type II after Lethbridge, T 1931, most highly decorated of all boxes.

The reliquary is a remarkable combination of sheet metal craftsmanship and artistic creativity. This is demonstrated in every aspect of design and construction, from the complexity of individual components to the skill required to carve the punches used to produce the iconographical scenes on the reliquary. Notwithstanding that the artwork portrayed indicates a non-Christian genesis, the warrior fight scene can be viewed as a paradox and the imagery, Christian imagery (Gibson, 2015, 156).

If an explanation is required, why both Christian and pagan themes are evident on the Burwell reliquary, an example linking Germanic legend to Webster (2012, 96) remarks that the story makes "Christianity more attractive and biblical events through Anglo-Saxon decorative art can be seen on the early eighth century Franks Casket. accessible to the heathen population. Hence once again we see the past used to inform an understanding of the present". The Burwell reliquary could be seen as Christian reliquary, a visual declaration of its owners religious beliefs and practices. Further all decorated extant Type ll reliquaries are cruciform decorated, all have a hinged lids to secure brandea thus replicating the continental spherical Christian amulet boxes. This will be discussed later.

Lethbridge, T C, 1928 The Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Burwell Cambridge (Part ll). Proceedings of the Cambridgeshire Antiquarian Society, XXVll: 116-123

Lethbridge, T C, 1931 Recent Excavations in Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. Cambridge Antiquarian Society Quarto Publication New Series lll

Gibson, A, 2015 Anglo-Saxon 'work boxes' and the Burwell Grave 42 box, Christian or Pagan. Proceedings Cambridgeshire Antiquarian Society Volume C1V, 149-160

Gibson, Tony, 2020 The Dating of Beowulf Archaeological Evidence of the Dragon Fight? htpp://www.academia.edu

Figure 16a

Type II lid top and body base showing Beowulf Dragon Flight?

CUXTON - KENT

Grave 306 c17-25 years of age

Figure 17

The site was excavated in advance of the construction of the HS1 Channel Tunnel Rail link in 1998. Thirty-six graves and the skeletal remains of thirty-five individuals are recorded. Grave 306 contained two boxes a Type ll described here, the other a Type lll is detailed in Section 3. The importance of this burial lies in the explicit biblical event incised on both boxes. These are early examples of Christian iconography evidenced on an Anglo-Saxon sheet metal artefact. They demonstrate a direct archaeological association to the Christian Gospels, and to the woman buried with them she should be considered as a devotee of the Christian religion.

Recovered in a crushed and fragmented condition, originally 46mm diameter x 60mm height, repousee decorated with incised imagery added at a later stage. Convex lid top and body base have four concentric rings centered around a boss and a crudely punch-dot representation of a leaf-like cross centered. The lid ring has two possibly three rows of dots around the periphery, the body four with a number of randomly placed angled and vertical lines of dots connecting the rows. A cross saltire on the body is positioned adjacent to where the hinged flange was located. The pivoting cast flange found detached from the body consists of three zones: on either side of a centre zones are what appear to be representations of two outward looking animal’s heads underneath each is what could be considered to be lightly scratched church steeples topped with a flag? Separated from the central zone by cross hatching and positioned centrally is a large faintly incised Latin cross, the shaft intersects a hill or mound, inside the mound on either side are two smaller crosses. These overtly Christian symbols can only refer to the crosses erected at Calvary. This box should be recognised as a Christian reliquary. The inscribed scenes have been applied by, or for, the owner after the box was manufactured, they are crude lack fluency and skill levels associated with other areas of the box.

Blackmore. L. Mackinder. T. and Powers. N. 2006. Iron Age Settlement and an Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Cuxton, Kent Vol. 2: The Grave Catalogue. J McKinley (Ed) London: CTRL Integrated Site Report Series. Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture.

Figure 17 Cuxton (Kent) Grave 306 Type ll after Blackmore et al . Incised iconography on hill very faintly scratched on original, exaggerated for Figure 17 Cuxton (Kent) Grave 306 Type ll after Blackmore et al . Incised iconography on hill illustration very faintly scratched on original, exaggerated for illustration

DOVER BUCKLAND - KENT

Grave 107

Plate 2

Inhumation cemetery was discovered during the construction of housing development. A rescue excavation commenced in September 1951 and continued until July 1953. Under difficult site and weather conditions graves were disturbed, destroyed, others were looted. The final excavation report was published in 1987 the Grave Catalogue records 161 graves.

Plate 2

Dover Bucklands Type II after Evison 1987

The Dover Buckland box was recovered in a miss-shaped and worn condition.

At the time of burial, the lid assembly had been sealed closed by rivets. It shows evidence of having been repaired on a number of occasions during its lifetime by having small copper-alloy patches riveted to worn areas on the base, flange and hinge bracket. Both lid and body assemblies are constructed in the same manner, a single sheet of metal was formed around 360 degrees then further extended to form a double thickness flange terminating in a radiused shape held together by rivets with a suspension loop attached by two rivets and a wire ring. A small, shaped metal component, is locate between the plates on the flange to strengthen the hinge.

The box is opened by an upwards pivoting motion based on a single pin acting as a fulcrum located through the flange. Among the unique design features incorporated into the box are three circular wire bands soldered on to the external structure. The two positioned at the top edge of the hinged top assembly and the bottom edge of the base assembly act as attachment points for small circular wire rings attached to the flat lid top and body base. These would have been clipped over the wire and back through the lid and body assemblies effectively holding individual components together, only one clip is now evident.

The third wire band is place centrally around the base of the hinged lid assembly and serves both to strengthen and balance the artistic presentation of the container. Unlike other Type ll boxes the Bucklands box is devoid of body decoration, the lid top and body base have identical quincunx expressed by five raised bosses. Box contained a damaged knob-headed bronze pin.

Evison. V. I. 1987. Dover the Bucklands Anglo-Saxon Cemetery. HBMCE Report 3, London.

NORTH LEIGH - OXFORDSHIRE

Figures 13, 18, 19

The design and construction of the North Leigh reliquary (Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, Accession Number 1929. 399c) demonstrates the technical ability of its maker who with four basic tools (Shears, hammer, punch and scriber) manufactured an exceptional example of seventh century Anglo-Saxon metal work.

That it was designed before construction is evidenced by careful measurement and metal shaping required to construct individual sub-components prior to final assembly and the repousee decoration on the reliquary body. Despite the skill used by the maker in other areas of manufacture, it is difficult to understand why no attempt was made to use a straight edge to cut out the metal blanks or to mark out guideline for the iconographical body pattern? With four rectangular 0.5-0.7mm thick copper-alloy sheet metal blanks, a short length of copper-alloy wire and a metal ring a high quality decorative hinged lid circular container was produced. The lid ring and body were cut to size then formed around a core, possibly tree branch to make circular tubes with a double thickness rectangular projection to one side. That on the lid ring was utalised to produce a curved rear projecting pivot tag. The body blank repousee decorated in the flat, then the shaped to make the abstract trefoil suspension flange, secured by a rivet. The now circular body was bell-mouthed at the top to form a narrow ledge around the circumference. This method of construction allowed the lid top to be clamped to the body by metal crimping. The process again reflects the skill and knowledge of the maker, who by increasing the diameter of lid top enough to overhang the ledge enabled the metal to be folded back to the underside and secure the lid top without the need of solder or rivets. Other reliquaries including Ascot-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire (PAS, OXON-1A54A6), Dover Painted House, Kent (Philip,1989), Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire (Humphries et al, 1923) use the same technique.

It is unclear how the base was originally fitted to the body assembly, currently the base appears to be secured by bending the metal inward around the tubular body in an attempt to hold it in position. If this method is original (which the author doubts) it is very unsatisfactory as the base appears to be unsupported and a loose fit. Surprising so, as other sheet metal working techniques used to make the box indicate a high degree of skill? A possible explanation, to consider, when the reliquary was first uncovered (Leeds, 1940,21-40, pl. Vl) the base was found separated from the box and this was an attempt to relocate the base?

An iron ring passed through the lid ring pivot tag and the top notch of the suspension flange holds the assemblies together and acts as a pivot point to open and close the box. A centrally located hole bored through both lid ring and body, would have enabled a small peg to lock the box in the closed position. This method of securing the box and its contents is evident on the Type ll reliquary from Grave 107 Bucklands Dover Kent (Evison, 1987) Plate 3.

Figure 18

North Leigh (Oxfordshire) TypeII lid top with incised decorations, body block type repousse similar to that on a Type I box from Verulamium Grave 21

Both circular lid ring and body base are undecorated. The iconography on the body consists two parallel tiers or courses of rectangular dotted panels of-set to one another, these give the impression of an ashlar built wall. A Type l relic box recovered from Grave 10 at King Harry Lane site Verulamium (Stead and Rigby 1989) has a similar pattern, so alike to suggest a possible connection between the communities or the maker? The rigid notched trefoil shaped suspension flange is a unique feature, sometime, possibly after manufacture a cross saltire had been scratched on one side. Iconography on the North Leigh lid top is characteristic of the relic box, an engraved expanded terminal cross, within the space between each cross arm are poorly replicated Salin Style ll interlacing.

The very precise shape of the cross could indicate that this was scribed around an actual physical cross as the reproduction is of a high standard. By contrasts, the four naive engraved interlaced areas are missed shaped and poorly applied, they appear out of context to the quality of the box. Possibly applied at a later date? In addition to the explicit symbolic Christian cross engraved on the lid top, and the advanced mechanical method of fitting the lid top may imply that this is not the original and for some unexplainable reason had been replaced after manufacture.

Leeds, E T, 1940 Two Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries at in North Oxfordshire. Oxoniensia 5, 21-40

Figure 19 North Leigh (Oxfordshire) TypeII proposed manufacturing sequence.

1. Size and cut sheet metal blanks. 2. Repousse decorate. 3. Shape blanks around a core former possibly a tree branch? 4-5. Drill holes apply rivets, shape trefoil and lid ring notch. 6. Incise lid top possibly around a physical cross 7-8. Material clench lid top to lid ring. Body base to body. 9. Fit pivot ring

SAINT MARY'S STADIUM - SOUTHAMPTON HAMPSHIRE

Grave 4202

Mixed inhumation and cremation burial ground located prior to development of St. Mary's Stadium 1998-2000 Southampton. Site consisted of twenty-three inhumation and eighteen cremations.

60mm diameter x 40mm height plain and undecorated found in a fragmented condition missing large areas of lid, body base and body. The box has a cast or wrought D shaped flange (Fig. 15g) attached to the box by an integral vertical hinge and rod arrangement enabling the box to swing and adjust to body movements, a feature shared with Type ll boxes from Cuxton Grave 306, Sibertswold Grave 222 and Stand Low. A single ovoid leaf hinge is attached by two rivets to the lid ring and body enabling the lid assembly to open. In this respect it is similar to the Sibertswold box which has an additional locking hinge. Lid top and body are both bell-mouthed, fragments of lid top and body base are convex. The box may have contained a silver disc found adjacent to the box.

Birbeck. V. (ed.) et al. 2005. The Origins of Mid-Saxon Southampton: Excavation at the Friends Provident St. Mary's Stadium 1998-2000. Wessex Archaeology Report 20. Salisbury, Wessex Archaeology.

SIBERTSWOLD - KENT

Grave 60

Single primary burial under a large tumulus opened 17th July 1772.

Recorded as being "two inches in height" (Faussett 1856,112) repousee decorated. Superior in design and a very well constructed box with a lockable lid assembly and a hinged flange a feature shared with the Type ll boxes from Cuxton Grave 306, Stand Low and St. Mary's Grave 4202. The plain undecorated two-part swivel flange (hinged part now lost) combines a purpose designed splayed bracket attached to the body with an integral vertical pivot rod around which the box moved and adjusted. Another unique feature that indicates the quality of the box are the identical dual purpose and interrelating locking leaf hinges attached on opposite sides of the box. Each hinge/locking devise consists of two sub-triangular shaped brackets, one fitted to the lid ring the other to the body, both have a rolled hinge arrangement, together with a loop headed hinge pin attached to a single link chain secured by rings to the body of the box. When a single pin is placed its corresponding hinge, the lid can swing open, conversely when both pins are located the box is locked in the closed position. Body decorated with two rows of interlinked geometric step shaped patterns. Lid top and base are bell mouthed and have a single circle of dots around the periphery, set inside is an equal armed cross with furcated ends. The flat lid top and body base are each fitted to lid ring and body by four rivets. An unusual feature of the lid top and body base decorations is that the Greek cross with bifurcated ends is absent from both Faussett's original sketch (ibid, pl. Xlll.11) and also the illustration in Inventorium Sepulchrale. The hinged action on this and other boxes above when fitted to a chatelaine or belt enables the boxes to flex with the body movement making them more comfortable when worn. This relic box is an exceptional example of design and workmanship. The box contained wool, silk, and organic beads " like the seeds of a plant which we call Marvel of Peru " (Mirabilis jalapa).

Faussett. B. 1856. Inventorium Sepulchrale: An Account of some Antiquities dug up at Gilton, Kingsdown, Sibertswold Barfriston, Chartam and Crundale., in the County of Kent, from AD 1727 to AD 1773. C R Roach- Smith (ed.) London.

STAND LOW - DERBYSHIRE

Plate 3

Secondary burial in a Bronze-Age barrow, opened 19th June 1845.

Recovered in a decayed and fragmented condition. Repousee decorated, missing most of the body, lid ring, lid top and body base, what remained of the box is now lost. The only information we have is Llewellyn Jewitt's painting Relics of a Primeval Life in England 1850 (Sheffield City Museum) and Bateman’s excavation report. What can be observed from the painting is that the box represented an impressive example of Anglo-Saxon craftsmanship and metal work, expressed in the hinged suspension flange cast or wrought in the shape of Salin Style ll snake or serpent’s head. Bateman records the hinge "is perfect...".

Bateman. T. 1848. Vestiges of the Antiquities of Derbyshire. London: John Russell Smith.

Plate 3

Standlow Reconstruction Type ll after a watercolour painting by L. Jewitt