Rights Holder: Suffolk County Council
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Unique ID: SF-AEA143
Object type certainty: Certain
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status: Published
A cast copper-alloy buckle with integral plate, of Medieval date (probably 14th century). It has a D-shaped frame similar to Meols type 4, with pointed triangular pin rest, slightly offset bar and projecting knops to either side of the frame. The integral plate is a long rectangle in shape, with a lozenge-shaped terminal end separated from the plate by projecting transverse ridges. The plate has faceted edges and a central perforation that is almost keyhole-shaped, with a larger circular area at the terminal end extending towards the frame. At the outer edge of the terminal end the terminal has narrowed as a result of extensive use-wear.
The copper-alloy pin survives intact and is formed from a short length of copper-alloy wire that is square in section, wrapped around the inner edge of the frame and tapers to a sharp point. The buckle measures 30.71mm in length, 18.81mm in width, 3.65mm in thickness, and weighs 5.53g.
This buckle has a frame that finds parallels in Medieval examples of the 14th century AD (see for example Egan and Pritchard, 1991: no. 283). However, the integral plate with openwork keyhole-shaped perforation is more unusual. Similar buckles have been identified through the Portable Antiquities Scheme (see for example SUR-CFE437, WILT-DAE0D8,WILT-970E39, BUC-A7C7C6 and PUBLIC-31962F). One, NCL-5D3D67, is in place on a loop with a swivel also attached, giving rise to the suggestion that this may be a specialist dog-lead buckle.
Class: T shaped
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1300
Date to: Circa AD 1400
Quantity: 1
Length: 30.71 mm
Width: 18.81 mm
Thickness: 3.65 mm
Weight: 5.53 g
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 1st June 2009
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Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.