This small copper alloy rumbler bell was discovered by Yanne in Dunsfold, Surrey. Its upper surface is formed from four petals folded over a hollow interior containing a small iron clapper. Each petal carries a triangular panel of incised chevron decoration within a linear frame, while the base is left plain. An integrally cast loop at the top allowed the bell to be fastened securely.
Bells of this type are often identified as hawking bells, used in falconry. They were attached to the legs of trained birds of prey so that the falconer could track them when in flight. Such bells were prized items, sometimes imported, and reflect the popularity of falconry as a noble pursuit during the medieval and early post medieval period.
Although modest in size, this bell has a strong connection with the culture of the gentry and aristocracy, for whom hawking was both a sport and a display of status. Its discovery in rural Surrey suggests the presence of elite activity in the area and adds a touch of high society to the story of the fields around Dunsfold.
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