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Unique ID: PUBLIC-2E33C0
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
An interesting buckle plate consisting of 4 parts:
1. The principal part of the plate is formed by a strip of copper alloy bent in two with a gap at the fold, like that on a modern hairpin, to receive the buckle frame and pin (now both missing). Three tectangular notches have been cut into the folded edge; a central pin slot to locate the pin and a further two frame recesses cut into the corners to receive the buckle frame. The front of the plate is openwork with nine holes cut into it in three rows. The row nearest the fold consists of three circles, then in the centre is a row of three squares, followed by a further row of three circles. The plate is further decorated with two rows of four engraved ring-and-dot motifs, each with two concentric circles around a central dot, between the openwork perforations. All the motifs are evenly spaced from top to bottom, but the rows are set less regularly from the fold to the open attachment edge, with the square holes being closer to the fold than they should be. The row of ring-and-dot motifs on the fold side of the square holes is also offset a little so that one of the motifs has its edge off the plate.
The reverse is undecorated, but the two corners of the attachment edge have been trimmed to taper the plate slightly and round off the corners. This tongue-shaped edge may have made the buckle more comfortable to wear.
2. Sandwiched between the two halves of the outer plate is a smaller inner plate, which can be seen behind the openwork holes. Although it has a heavy patina, the surface is still quite shiny and reflective, suggesting that it was probably tinned or silvered. Fine surface scratches can be seen which may have been deliberately made to assist the tinning or silvering to adhere to this surface.
3. and 4. The plate is held together by two small copper-alloy rivets close to the centre of the attachment edge, which penetrate the inner reflective plate and hold it in place. The rivet heads are approximately square, but the tops are domed. They have the same dark grey colour as the rest of the plate.
The plate measures 37.8 mm in length, 33.2 mm in width, and weighs 12.94 g.
This buckle is of interest as although it is clearly related to later Roman military buckles, it is very much smaller and no parallel has yet been found in either Bishop and Coulston 2009 or Marzinzik 2003. Some sherds of dark pottery were found in the vicinity which are not Roman and do not match common local Iron Age material and thus could possibly be early medieval. Although the possibility remains that this could be an unusual late Roman buckle, it could equally be a transitional piece from the 5th century, or a revivalist piece from the 7th century.
This is a find of note and has been designated: County / local importance
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: ROMAN
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 380
Date to: Circa AD 700
Quantity: 1
Length: 37.8 mm
Width: 33.2 mm
Weight: 12.94 g
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 24th November 2010
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Primary material: Copper alloy
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: White metal coated
No references cited so far.