BUCKLE

An incomplete late early-medieval cast copper alloy buckle frame (c. 10th century). Approximately 2/3 of the frame survives, with three remaining protruding conical zoomorphic heads as decoration and a pronounced sub-triangular pin rest with central groove. The zoomorphic heads seem to consist of an elongated snout with two simple eye holes. The two heads that comprise an outer edge of the buckle frame flank the pin rest, with a simple frame in between the elements. However, the third head is connected to one of the outer decorative heads by means of a thicker bevelled frame segment with repeated indentations; these indentations are now discoloured with a vibrant red. There are breaks at the end of the third head's snout as well as one of the outer heads, indicating where another portion of frame broke off. It is likely that a fourth head may have been present originally and that the buckle was more of a rectangular shape. The remains of the frame have been bent and twisted around, so that the two broken surfaces are touching.

The fragment measures 32 mm wide, 6.1 mm thick and weighs 8.95 g.

This buckle can be compared with an example from Old Sarum, Wiltshire, published by Hinton (1974, 60; no. 32). Its zoomorphic decoration has been described in terms of the Borre style which would date it from the late 9th to the late 10th century. It can also be compared to a local example recorded on this database, SUSS-438A54.