Mount

An iron purse mount/strike a light, consisting of a triangular plate repeated by three broad and deep grooves parallel to the outer edges, creating narrow plain borders. The grooves are cross-nicjed, possibly to take inlay or more probably to catch the light and emphasise the grooves. The upper border is beaten out to create a loop at either end, formed from a bird's neck, head and beak facing towards the centre. An eye is indicated by a singe incised ringlet. The only other decoratio is a frieze of triangles with a circle on top. The buckle loop and plate were made separately and rivete together. This object can be dated to the second half of the 5th century. A strike-a-light was used as a rough surface to strike a flint against to create a spark. A bag would have been attached below the frame, possibly to hold the flint and tinder.