Context (Analysis)
Santon Hoard. Originally thought to have been found at Santon Downham, Suffolk but research by Rainbird Clarke quoted by Spratling shows it was found in the parish of Santon, on breckland close to the Thetford boundary, between the east end of the former Half-Moon Plantation and the site of St Helen' s Oratory (TL52 837873).
Research by Mansel Spratling. Spratling reference number MGS 19.

Event Date
Author: maa

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Context (Found together / assemblage)
Two other objects - a tinned disc with punched holes and a disc with adhering iron - are also marked 1897.224 F and are stored all together. It is likely that they are actually 1897.224.20 and 1897.224.21 respectively, but Mansel Spratling believes they are all part of the same object.
Event Date
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Context (Found together / assemblage)
See 1897.224 F.2-3 for other parts of this brooch. These were previously recorded as 1897.224.20-21 however these numbers represent the Spratling catalogue numbering system, not one designed by MAA. As Spratling notes these are possibly the back plates of/soldered to 1897.224 F.1, and therefore potentially part of the same object, these have been given the suffixes F.2-3.
Event Date
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Description (Labels & Markings)
A white hand written label adhered to the back reads '97.179 (58) Suffolk Sept 1897.' in faded black ink.
Event Date
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Context (Field collection)
Santon Hoard (1897.218-1897.228). Found by a ‘labourer’ in his garden in Santon, Norfolk in September 1897

Event Date 9/1891
Author: Sam Daisley

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Description (Physical description)
A bronze disc, possibly a brooch, embossed with a winged griffin-like horse.
Event Date 1897
Author: maa

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Context (Display)
A selection of the Santon Hoard was exhibited at the meeting of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society on 29 November 1897

Event Date 29/11/1897
Author: Sam Daisley

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Context (References)
Von Hügel, Anatole. (1899). ‘Exhibition of Bronze and Iron Implements’. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, vol. 9.4. pp. 430-431.
Event Date 1899
Author: Sam Daisley

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Context (References)
Smith, R.A. (1909). 'A Hoard of metal found at Santon Downham, Suffolk'. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, vol. 13. pp. 146-163.
Event Date 1909
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Context (References)
Fox, Cyril. (1923). The Archaeology of the Cambridge Region. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. p. 104, 106, 107. pl. XVIII no. 9.
Event Date 1923
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Context (References)
Spratling, M.G. (1966). The Santon Hoard Reconsidered: A Rich burial of the mid-first century AD from Norfolk. Unpublished B.A. dissertation, University of Cardiff.
Event Date 1966
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Context (Amendments / updates)
Errors have been made in the numbering and marking of the objects in 1897.224. It may be possible to resolve these errors once the numbers of the objects on display have been cross-checked. J. Somerville 16/5/2001.
Event Date 16/5/2001
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Context (References)
Garrow, D., C. Gosden & J.D. Hill (eds). (2008). Rethinking Celtic Art. Oxbow: Oxford.
Event Date 2008
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Context (Analysis)
In 'The Santon Hoard Reconsidered: A rich Burial of the mid-First Century AD from Norfolk', Mansel Spratling writes about this objects: 'The design was produced either with a press-mould or in true repousse technique. Framed by a circular rib 31mm in internal diameter, the mythical figure appears at first sight to be a pegasus, but the profile of a horse's back is never as sinuous as this, since its vertebral column is straight. On the other hand, this need not militate against the figure being equine, as other representations of horses of this period ... have equally sinuous backs. The long slender tail running between its legs, rat-like in length (a snake, in part?), the tooth projecting down from the end of the jaw and the wings sprouting from its back indicate that this is no ordinary beast. The 'tooth' may rather be prey and suggest that we are dealing with a griffin...'
Event Date 2009
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Context (References)
Spratling, M.G. (2009). The Santon Hoard Reconsidered: A Rich burial of the mid-first century AD from Norfolk. Unpublished B.A. dissertation, University of Cardiff.
Event Date 2009
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Context (References)
Davies, M. (2014). Technology at the Transition: Relationships between Culture, Style and Function in the Late Iron Age Determined Through the Analysis of Artefacts. Unpublished doctoral thesis, Cardiff University. pp. 171-215.
Event Date 2014
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Context (Amendments / updates)
The original Spratling MGS number associated with this object was found to be from the earlier, 1966, iteration of his unpublished thesis, Spratling MGS 19. The updated, 2009, Spratling number is Spratling MGS 25A and this has now been added in the Other numbers field (see Context: References).

Event Date 17/12/2018
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Context (Amendments / updates)
This bronze strip has had different accession numbers associated with it at different times. Its label reads '97.179 (58)'. This idno can be found in the accession register however, it has been crossed out at some point and a note next to this reads 'see no 218', as this is the start of the Santon hoard numbers. It is unclear when and why this occurred but has been added to the MAA Number field as an incorrect number.
Event Date 17/12/2018
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Conservation (Remedial)
CON.1983.104 | Remedial
Event Date 16/10/2024
Author: Stephanie De Roemer