Rights Holder: Colchester Museums
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Unique ID: ESS-F0D0B5
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Incomplete cast copper alloy buckle with integral plate, dating to the 13th century. The buckle frame is subrectangular in plan with slightly expanded top corners and is slightly domed in section, having a flat reverse. At the front of the frame is an integral moulding of two, parallel transverse raised lines which form the pin rest. The frame is split along one side. At the point where the buckle meets with the integral plate, is a raised moulded band that runs in parallel to the frame. This band is pierced with a circular hole, which would have held the pin. The pin is entirely missing. The buckle plate is also slightly domed in section. It is basically lyre shaped, having a central shaft and two curved side arms, one of which is missing. The central shaft has a square, integral plate approximately half way down its length and then narrows again before flaring into a triangular shaped terminal. At the top of the shaft, essentially behind the pinhole, is a further smaller circular piercing for fixing the plate to the leather strap. The surviving side arm is an elongated S shape and terminates in a rounded end. This end is pierced with a circular hole for fixing to the leather strap. The side arm is decorated with lines of rouletted triangles. The shaft is worn, but also appears to have been rouletted. The reverse of the buckle is plain. The object is much abraded. The original surface survives in small patches with a dark brown patina. Exposed surfaces are light green, especially to the rear. Break edges are worn, suggesting damage occurred in antiquity.
Parallels for this buckle have been found in an unstratified context at Kings Lynn, Norfolk (Clarke & Carter, 1977, p288, no. 6), and another recorded from Norfolk on the Portable Antiquities Database asLIN-5FFC92. Based on the fact they may represent the letter M, signifying the Virgin Mary, it is believed these buckles date to the 13th century when this became a common form of decoration.
The object is 59.6mm long, of which 18.72mm is the frame. It is 32.3mm wide across the frame, 2.0mm thick and weighs 10.33g.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1300
Quantity: 1
Length: 59.6 mm
Width: 32.3 mm
Thickness: 2 mm
Weight: 10.33 g
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Other reference: ID 3970
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1000 metre square.
No references cited so far.