two finds-info appreciated.

[benny]

Two recent finds here-first is a strap end,I think possibly Saxon,any ideas on what century it would have been from and what style it is if anyone on here's knowledgable on these things?
And second,what I think is a steelyard weight-again I'm not sure on age. Its a bronze head which is filled with lead and has got traces of an iron insert which has corroded away. Unfortunately the back has been broken away in antiquity. I thought possibly Roman but it doesn't look like a"classic"Roman head!
Any info on these two artefacts would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.

[The Doc]

Nice finds benny. The strap end is around 8th-9th century. I'm not sure of the decorative style.

[Chef Geoff]

That's a lovely strap end Benny as Doc has said it's somewhere from the late 8th through to the early 10th century. The pattern is what is called Trewhiddle style which helps date it to the 9thC and is referenced as a Thomas's Class A, Type 1. It is zoomorphic and yes those dots are meant to be eyes with the nose between them.

[benny]

Thats great cheers. I never noticed the face until I took a photo and enlarged it,amazing how much detail you miss with just eyesight.
This puts a whole new perspective on the area now knowing that Saxons were there!
Any ideas on the head?

[wayno]

very nice mate