MEDIEVAL BUCKLE

1100

Unusual buckle plate of (0.5 - 1mm) thick sheet in the form of a bird, body and wings separated by roughly keyhole-shaped spaces. Punched decoration of lines of tiny triangles, with three grooves to mark the slightly flaring tail. The wing terminals, which would have been pierced by rivets, are missing. A driven through the centre may have been a supplement to these rivets or perhaps a replacement. There is a pin slot, but no frame recesses. In their place there is a tiny spiked projection on both sides next to fold. Length 37mm, width 36mm. The rear part is only 11mm long. Several very 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 4th century (PAS NLM 4638). The first to be recorded in Norfolk was dated 12th / 13th century by Sue Margeson in 1992.