BUCKLE

A fragment of an early medieval (early Anglo-Saxon) silvered, garnet and gold foil inlaid triangular buckle plate. Only the outer end of the plate survives. This has a concave reverse with a rim c.3.3mm wide around its outer edges. The toe of the plate is circular in shape (11.94mm in diameter) with a small circular hole through its centre where a separate boss was most likely attached originally. Behind this the outer face of the plate is decorated with a rectangular recess, c.3mm wide, running along each edge with a raised section - trapezoidal in shape and expanding towards its outer end - between them. One recess contains four irregularly shaped keystone cells formed from raised strips of copper alloy, two inlaid with cloisonné garnet underlaid with pointillé gold foils, one in which only the gold foil survives and the fourth empty. The contents of the other recess are missing. The central raised section has a separate in situ copper alloy rivet through its inner end and traces of silvering on its surface. The break at the inner end is irregular and fresh.

Very similar to a copper alloy example, also decorated with foil backed garnets, from Faversham, Kent (MacGregor and Bolick 1993, 196, no.34.15). Similarities can also be seen with the more elaborate silver gilt, filigree and garnet buckle plate from one of the Alton sword burials (Grave 16) (Evison 1988, 18ff, 50f), the gold clasp found in Sutton Hoo Mound 1 (Bruce-Mitford 1978 Figs.341-341,346-348; British Museum no.1939,1010.10) and the copper alloy buckle plate in found Sutton Hoo Mound 17 (Carver, 2019, fig.103), both of early 7th century AD date. The latter is a particularly good parallel due to its material and style of decoration and this appears to have been part of a set together with similar scabbard buckle and two pyramidal strap-mounts (ibid., 215).

Marzinzik (2003, 50-51) classifies this style as her Typegroups II.23b-i and II.23b-ii (depending on whether it has counter plate and backing plate, neither of which can be determined here), both of late 6th to 7th century AD date.

Length: 19.39mm, width: 12.46mm, thickness: 3.18mm, weight: 2.36g