MEDIEVAL BUCKLE

1100

An incomplete copper-alloy Medieval cast buckle. The buckle is in the form of a bird the body and wings are separated by roughly keyhole-shaped spaces, one of the wings is missing due to old breaks, now worn.The frame end is straight and rectangular with a large circular pin hole through its centre. Its front face had a transverse moulded ridge. The wing terminals, which would have been pierced by rivets, are missing. In the centre of the wings behind the pin hole is a rivet hole. The body and wings have a border decoration with the centre of the body containing undiscernable decoration. The more complete wing is decorated with longitudinal grooves at its tip. As the tail extends from the body longitudinal grooves are present. The tail has V-shaped notches at its terminal, which is slightly flaring.As the tail extends from the body horizontal line detailing is present. The tail is created through punched decoration of lines of tiny triangles, with three grooves to mark the slightly flaring tail.The buckles measures 43.22mm in length, 28.38mm in width, 3.51mm in thickness, 8.785g in weight.Several close parallels from Norfolk have been recorded: Barton Bendish (HER 20399), Beachamwell (HER 4561), Broome (HER 28867), Hillington (HER 39307), Morley (HER 29928), Narborough (HER 31173), North Walsham (HER 53173), Postwick (HER 30475), Quidenham (PAS NMS-4D08E2, HER 37284), Sedgeford (PAS NMS-11EF31, HER 51078), Watton (HER 39299), Weybourne (HER 41118), "Norfolk" (PAS NCL-BAB662) and a possible example from Marsham (HER 39717). One from Corton in Suffolk (TM 53 97) was recorded by Norfolk Landscape Archaeology. Other similar pieces have been recorded from Great Barton, Suffolk (PAS SF-799A85) and Owersby and Sleaford, Lincolnshire (PAS SWYOR-FB0707 and LIN-5FFC92). The latter is almost complete, and includes a trapezoidal frame. One from Baston, Lincolnshire was considered to belong to the 4thcentury (PAS NLM 4638). The first to be recorded in Norfolk was dated 12th / 13th century by Sue Margeson in 1992.