BUCKLE

An incomplete copper alloy buckle plate, of Medieval dating (AD 1275 to AD 1400).

Around 50% of the buckle plate is present, consisting only of the front plate. The back plate is missing, presumed lost in antiquity.

The front plate is sub rectangular in shape, with two rectangular projections at one side. A large rectangular pin has been cut between this two rectangular projections. The buckle plate has not been recessed for the frame. The front plate has been decorated with an openwork quatrefoil. Around this quatrefoil is a circle of recessed pellets, all contained within a concentric compass engraved circle. Four circular sectioned rivets were used to secure the front plate to the back plate, with the strap between. Three of the rivet survive. An incomplete circular sectioned rivet hole is present that would have contained the fourth rivet. The reverse is undecorated.

It measures 26.1 mm in length, 17.6 mm wide and 1.9 mm thick. The rivets have a diameter of 1.5 mm. It weighs 3.1 g.

The buckle plate is a mid to dark green colour, with an even surface patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of some of the original surface detail.

A similar buckle plate was recovered during the excavations on the London foreshore (Egan, 2002, p 96-7, no 439) and has been dated to Ceramic Phase 11 (c. AD 1350 to c. AD 1400). A couple of other similar buckle plates with quatrefoil decoration have been recorded on the PAS database, including: HAMP-83A6F5, IOW-B01C16 and SF-34E324. It is reasonable to assume that this buckle plate is of similar dating.