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BUCKLE
Unique ID: BERK-DED34C
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A near-complete cast copper alloy medieval buckle and plate, dating from c. AD 1250-1500. The buckle is rectangular in plan with a long narrowed strap bar to which the plate is attached. The pin is missing.The buckle has raised outer edges, the recess between being filled with moulded decoration of multiple diagonal lines. This design is only present on the upper side of the buckle, the reverse being flat and plain. The buckle plate is rectangular in plan and consists of one sheet of copper alloy that has been folded over the buckle bar with two rectangular lugs cut out form the main sheet. The plate has three rivet holes along the bottom edge, the third now being folded towards the inside of the plate (probably post-depositional damage). Both the buckle and the plate have been silvered and much of this remains. The most striking element of this buckle set is the design on the plate; within a field of 'wigglework' decoration, is what appears to be an incised design depicting an insect, seemingly a grasshopper. The execution of the incising is precise and although the depiction has an almost comical appearance to the modern eye(especially the head of the insect), the two short front legs, possible open wing and two large back legs leaves little doubt of the intended subject. A look at the available literature, and at other buckles on this database and elsewhere, has not revealed any parallels, not just of grasshoppers, but of insects in general, although they were common depictions in medieval literature.
Find of note status
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Class: Cassels type 1.7G
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1250
Date to: Circa AD 1500
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 36.8 mm
Width: 38.7 mm
Thickness: 4.2 mm
Weight: 15.1 g
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: OXPAS2015.166
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Zoomorphic
Completeness: Incomplete
Surface Treatment: White metal coated
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Hampshire (County)
District: Basingstoke and Deane (District)
Parish or ward: Nutley (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SU5942
Four figure Latitude: 51.17420311
Four figure longitude: -1.15741432
1:25K map: SU5942
1:10K map: SU54SE
Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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