Eine angelsächsische Riemenzunge aus Rieseby an der Schlei

Abstract

Due to a suspected Anglo-Saxon origin, the
contextless detector find of a copper-aloy
strap-end from Rieseby on the Schlei becomes
a promising subject for further research:
Did it really come from Britain? If
so, what is its significance regarding the
nature of the early medieval relationship
between Britain and the Schlei? Has it
been traded, stolen, bought…?
!e first important step was a general
typological, chronological and geographical
classification. It was possible to assign
the strap-end to the 9th
century Trewhiddle-
Style, subtype a, of southern British
origin. This led to a search for further datable
Anglo-Saxon objects found along the
Schlei and – to find out about possible ways
to and uses by their new owners – from
Scandinavia in general. Concerning An
glo-Saxon coins, only two stycas of the
9th century from the Schlei have been
published so far. In terms of ornamented
metal work, sporadic pieces of jewellery
as well as eight Anglo-Saxon strap-ends
from the relevant period appear among
the finds of Füsing, Haithabu and Haitha-
bu-South. Most interestingly, those could
also be assigned to the Trewhiddle-Style.
At this point of research, the number
and nature of relevant finds make tradingconnections quite improbable. Supported
by modifications on some of the objects and
the fact that many of them are part of the
costume, an interpretation as a souvenir or
looted good, which was probably brought to
the Schlei as the property of an individual in
the context of Viking imperialism in Britain,
seems realistic for the Rieseby strap-end.