English: A cast copper alloy fob, hanger, or dangler of late Iron Age (pre-Roman) date (100BC - AD 80). The fob is incomplete being broken across the projecting shank extending from the centre of the reverse; this break is old and patinated and the surface is unworn. Due to the break the shank and perforated loop is lost. The dangler is well cast with a circular disc / head which is augmented with an incised and pierced decoration. The overall form is that of an openwork threefold triskelle or whirligig. The whirligig is formed around a central cast raised circular boss with a cup-shaped central depression. The exterior edge of this boss is further delineated /enclosed by a deeply incised groove. From this circle three incised curvilinear arcs extend forming the external edge of crescent (comma) shaped openwork removals. These removals define the three arms of the whirligig. Each removal has been finely cut and is well proportioned, the tail of the comma like crescent does not cut through the mount - instead it is deeply incised forming a very finely detailed tip that leads to the edge of the openwork. The three defined arms are also well modelled, each arm is cast slightly thickened being 4.5mm thick compared to the disc which is 3.7mm. This additional thickness is enhanced by the arm being slightly twisted, bent away, giving the whirligig a three dimensional form - and he leading edge of each arm motion and definition. The entire disc is bordered by a very finely incised circumferential groove which defines the internal design and forms a neat external edge. In places this border is not deeply incised, whilst in others it is augmented with neat closely spaced diagonal lines - almost hachures. The reverse face of the mount is flat - apart from the centrally positioned shank that extends. The edges of this shank are flared / they taper from the junction to the shank - the shank extends 6.2mm from the reverse and has a diameter of 12.2mm at the base and 9.2mm at the break. The reverse is also marked with areas of fine traced lines. These incised lines are very shallow and probably mark the mapping out of the design by the original bronze smith / craftsmen. The marks are very similar to those seen in the openwork on the front - being crescent / comma shaped - although they are of varying sizes and so do not correspond directly with the design. It is likely that they have been applied with a compass and possibly functioned either as an initial failed motiff / test design, or they helped the craftsman proportion the design on the front. The fob is a deep greenish brown colour with a well formed and preserved polished surface patina. One edge of the front face is abraded and the original patinated surface is lost; however a less well formed patina has encased this damage suggesting that it occurred some time ago, although possibly after deposition.

The overall function of these mounts is unknown, although they are recorded as either being fobs, danglers or hangers. All descriptions of a proposed function - it seems that due to their size they are related with a specialised function, either in furniture, harness or personal functional dress. This example was tested using an XRF at Birmingham Museums Trust which produced a spectrum of the metal alloy - this showed the metal being formed of Silver (AG) 0.5%, Copper (Cu) 15.75%, Iron (Fe) 26.95%, Tin (Sn) 49.58%, Lead (Pb) 2.24%, Silicon (Si) 7.97%. This is interesting and the results need some further explanation - the XRF tested the surface of the metal and as such only gives an indication as to what the alloy was at the surface. Therefore much of the iron present is likely to be due to surface product from the soil - it has come from a previously waterlogged area with an iron pan. The tin is due to the differential corrossion rates with tin being eroded from the surface - however the high tin could suggest the surface has been enriched. The lead within the alloy helps the metal to be more plastic and cast better and the silicon is from a surface treatment applied by the finder to 'preserve the patina'. Importantly the alloy does not contain zinc - which is a diagnostic element in the metalwork of the Roman period - therefore strongly suggesting that this was constructed during the pre Roman period - in the late Iron Age. This period ends in Wales and the Marches around 80 AD.

The closest PAS parallel can be seen from South Cambridgeshire (CAM-CC10A5) which has a similar plastic design to this triskelle whirligig. Whilst a broadly similar mount was also recorded with PAS from Marbury cum Quoisley, Cheshire (LVPL-F98596). A plainer version from the Vale of Glamorgan ( NMGW-43E1D4) has been recorded by the National Museum of Wales and PAS; this has a detailed summary of the form and also its distribution in Wales which is pertinent here:

Fobs or danglers are a poorly understood artefact type, and may have been hung from items of equipment, personal apparel or harness decoration (Jope 2000, pp 285) . Jope (ibid.) records 17 known examples of danglers and related 'hangers' from Britain, while Macgregor (1976a, pp 37) records nine know examples of Triskele-decorated fobs from the British Isles. One recorded example (Macgregor, 1976b, pp 40) can be seen as a good parallel for this piece, with a simple openwork triskele design enhanced by a border of punched dots. A fragmentary example recovered from the hill fort of Tre'r Ceiri at Llanaelhaearn, Gwynedd and from Abergavenny, Monmouthshire (Spratling, 1968) appear to be the only other recorded examples from Wales, although four examples were recovered from Kingsholm in neighbouring Gloucestershire (Jope 2000, pp 285, No 225a-d)1. One of the Kingsholm examples was still attached to binding, appearing to be from the corner of a casket (ibid.).

The fob measures 47.8mm diameter, the head plate is 5.0mm thick and it weighs 38.93 grams