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BUCKLE
Unique ID: PUBLIC-201EF5
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Early Medieval copper alloy buckle, probably of 12th century date
The buckle is near complete, missing the pin (with a length of 52.0mm, a width of 55.9mm, a depth of 8mm and a weight of 44.9g). The form of the buckle is D-shaped with the ends of the frame enhanced with beast's heads protruding to the rear. The beats are depicted with large raised circular eyes on the sides, below a moulded undulating brow. The bar is of rounded D-shaped section (with a width and thickness of 5 -6mm) and is convex across its length. The frame is of sub triangular section (4mm thick) and is bevelled towards the outside edge. The frame is narrowest near the bar (at 12.8mm) and gradually widens to the midpoint (where it has a width of 20.8mm). The midpoint of the frame has a prominent sub-triangular raised moulding containing a central recess to accommodate the missing pin. The frame is decorated with a panel each side of the central notch, contained within an incised border. The heavy surface corrosion has largely obscured the design, which may have depicted incised interlaced beasts. The surface of the buckle is heavily corroded with a pale green corrosion product overlying areas of red-brown metal.
The buckle has proved difficult to closely parallel and may be seen as unusual. The zoomorphic attributes suggest an Early Medieval date, possibly of a devolved Late Saxon style. The possible interlace panel terminating in a beast's head is reminiscent of Late Saxon strap-ends dating from the 9th to 12th centuries
Notes:
Find of note status
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
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 800
Date to: Circa AD 1200
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 52 mm
Width: 55.9 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Weight: 44.9 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 17th June 2009 - Thursday 16th July 2009
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: NMWPA 2009.193
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: Wales (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Neath Port Talbot (Unitary Authority)
District: Neath Port Talbot (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Margam (Community)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SS8084
Four figure Latitude: 51.542101
Four figure longitude: -3.731786
1:25K map: SS8084
1:10K map: SS88SW
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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