Record ID: LON-EFED41 - EARLY MEDIEVAL buckle

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BUCKLE

Unique ID: LON-EFED41

Object type certainty: Probably

A resized image of Early Medieval (Anglo Saxon) copper alloy buckle or girdle hanger

An incomplete late Roman - Early Medieval (Anglo Saxon) cast copper alloy object, possibly a buckle or a linking ring from a girdle hanger, 5th - 6th century. The find consists of the moulded copper alloy arch that would have been looped over a belt or girdle, with a decorative hanger suspended from the loop at the end of each arm. The arch has been cast in an irregular triangle section, with a flat back and base and a moulded outer face. At the centre of the outer face are two equally-space face masks, each with a pair of concave round eyes and a concave vertically scored mouth. The remaining arm of the arched hanger curves steeply round and narrows into a D-shaped section. At the terminal of the arm it expands outwards again into a rectangular collar and a knop which has been pierced with a circular suspension loop. The interior edge of the arch has been worn fairly smooth, although it is not clear whether this occurred prior to or post-deposition. The object has a very dark green patina, and patches of white concretion on the upper edge near the masks. A similar object is recorded in the British Museum collection of Anglian types, although this has zoomorphic decoration rather than figurative; it is dated by associated objects to around AD 500 (1923, 89)

Stuart Laycock notes: the top half looks more medieval than late Roman, but the attachment method looks more late Roman.
Kevin Leahy notes: this may be too wide to be a linking ring for a girdle hanger.

Dimensions: length: 32.83mm; width: 43.35mm; thickness: 6.91mm; weight: 12.11g.

Notes:

Girdle hangers are so-called, because they were clearly worn suspended from the belt or girdle, although the degree to which some of them may have had a function is unclear (MacGregor and Bolick 1993). MacGregor and Bolick note that they are found exclusively in female graves, and almost exclusively in Anglian areas (1993, 228).

References:
MacGregor, A. & Bolick, E. (1993) A summary catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon collections (non-ferrous metals). British Archaeological Reports: British Series 230.
British Museum (1923) A Guide to the Anglo-Saxon and Foreign Teutonic Antiquities in the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities. Oxford University Press.
Identification by Dr Kevin Leahy, PAS Finds Advisor for Early Medieval artefacts and Stuart Laycock, Specialist in Late Roman buckles.

This is a find of note and has been designated: Regional importance

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Ascribed Culture: Anglo-Saxon [scope notes| view all attributed records]
Date from: Circa AD 400
Date to: Circa AD 600

Dimensions and weight

Length: 32.83 mm
Width: 43.35 mm
Thickness: 6.91 mm
Weight: 12.11 g
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Manufacture method: Cast [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Decoration style: Zoomorphic [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Completeness: Incomplete [scope notes | view all attributed records]

Spatial data

Region: South East And London
County: Kent
District: Dover
Parish: Capel Le Ferne

Restricted 4 Figure grid reference: TR2438
The map has been degraded and provides an approximate location with a degree of random obfuscation.
Grid reference source: From finder
Grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.

Method of discovery: Metal detector [scope notes]
General landuse: Cultivated land [scope notes]
Specific landuse: Operations to a depth greater than 0.25m [scope notes]

Personal details

Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Recorded by: Mrs Kate Sumnall - [ view all attributed records]
Identified by: Dr Kevin Leahy - [view all attributed records]

Other reference numbers

References cited

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