MEDIEVAL BUCKLE

1100

Incomplete medieval buckle plate of thick copper alloy sheet in the form of a bird, body and wings separated by roughly keyhole-shaped spaces, with decoration consisting of lines of tiny triangles. The wings, which would have been pierced by rivets at the terminals, are largely missing. Half of the fold, broken at the pin slot, is also missing. Length 40mm. The rear part is only 10mm long. Thickness 0.5 - 1.8mm.Several very close parallels have been recorded in Norfolk: Barton Bendish (HER 20399), Beachamwell (HER 4561), Broome (HER 28867), Cranworth (HER 57975), Hillington (HER 39307), Morley (HER 29928), Narborough (HER 31173), North Walsham (NMS-334163, HER 53173), Postwick (NMS-39D9C4, HER 30475), Runcton Holme (HER 56164), Quidenham (NMS-4D08E2, HER 37284), Sedgeford (NMS-11EF31, HER 51078), Watton (HER 39299), Weybourne (NMS-B73C92, HER 41118), "Norfolk" (NCL-BAB662) and a possible example from Marsham (HER 39717). One from Corton in Suffolk was recorded by Norfolk Landscape Archaeology. A. Other similar pieces on this database include xamples from Great Barton, Suffolk (SF-799A85) and Owersby and Sleaford, Lincolnshire (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 4th cent. (NLM 4638). The first to be recorded in Norfolk was dated to the 12th or 13th century by Sue Margeson in 1992.