Following yesterday's post about the 'mystery object' in the Staffordshire Hoard - here is my suggestion.For me it hints at being some sort of harness fitting.I could certainly see it working as a 'rein guide' for driving a ceremonial cart.Take the Oseberg cart (pictured below) - which takes a single horse between shafts. If the horse had a 'saddle' / 'surcingle' with this (see yesterday's post for image) mounted on top, I could see the pommel-like feature being of use to the driver to leverage the reins against. Thoughts... ... See MoreSee Less
This is a beautiful mystery. What do you think it is? The article makes a very good case for it being some sort of headpiece for a religious figure, but might there be other possibilities?Perhaps it wasn't for a person at all, but rather a fitting for a horse harness, saddle, or ceremonial cart? Perhaps it was a fitting for a royal ship?Do please share you thoughts here.www.medievalists.net/2026/01/staffordshire-hoard-mystery-object/... See MoreSee Less
