MEDIEVAL BUCKLE

1100

Incomplete medieval copper alloy buckle plate of thick sheet in the form of a bird, body and wings separated by roughly keyhole-shaped spaces. There is a pin slot. Most of one wing is missing. Decoration comprises lines of very tight rocker-arm engraving, with three lines to mark the slightly flaring tail. Both the extant wing terminal and the tail are pierced by an iron rivet. Length 43.5mm. Estimated width 46mm. The rear part is only 8mm long.Several close parallels from Norfolk have been recorded: Barton Bendish (HER 20399), Beachamwell (HER 4561), Broome (HER 28867), Cranworth (HER 57975), Fincham (NMS-830275, HER 58367), Hillington (HER 39307), Kelling (HER 58094, NMS-21C553), Morley (HER 29928), Narborough (HER 31173), North Walsham (NMS-334163, HER 53173), Postwick (HER 30475, NMS-39D9C4), Quidenham (NMS-4D08E2, HER 37284), Runcton Holme (HER 56164), Sedgeford (HER 51078, NMS-11EF31), Watton (HER 39299), Weybourne (HER 41118, NMS-B73C92), "Norfolk" (NCL-BAB662) and a possible example from Marsham (HER 39717). A record of one from Corton in Suffolk was made by Norfolk Landscape Archaeology. Other similar pieces have been recorded from Dunwich, Burgate and Great Barton, Suffolk (SF106, SF-799A85 and SF-D33C97) 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 century. (NLM4638). The first to be noted in Norfolk was dated 12th / 13th century by Sue Margeson in 1992.No. 8 on annotated map in file.