Bronze buckle and plate, total length 6.25cm. Compressed oval loop with chamfered upper surface and convex underside, attached by hinge mechanism consisting of two perforated lugs which engage with two similar lugs on front-plate and with hook on back of tongue and are fastened together by means of an iron bolt. Plain tongue with very thin and flat shield on lower plane. Plain solid cast plate, triangular with projecting hemispherical lobes near upper corner and nearly circular lobe on foot: these lobes have decorative domed rivet heads, or covers to rivet heads, the shanks of which passed through the leather belt and had smaller flat heads on the underside which secured to the underside of the belt a plain sheet metal triangular backplate. Gap between front and backplates of 2.5mm. indicates thickness of leather belt, but no leather appears to survive, merely some chalk is preserved. Front plate, so far as can be seen, appears slightly hollowed behind.
History
Grave ID
Sibertswold Downs Grave 35
Object ID
M6460
Catalogue Number
M 6460
Material
copper alloy, iron (Sonia Hawkes Material Notes; bronze, iron) (Antiquarian Material; brass)