Heavy white metal buckle, width 3.8 cm. Loop D-shaped with narrow round-sectioned bar, and much thicker bow rounded on the inside and faceted outside. Tongue strongly down-curved at tip, with marked median peak, and heavy shield on back: semi-circular base and curving 'foliate' junction with main part of tongue. Behind the remains of the hook, seemingly cast in one with the tongue, which held it to the buckle loop.This buckle has been metallurgically analysed. The Oxford Metallurgy Lab sliced the upper part of the bow underneath the tongue (without permission for such drastic treatment). The sliced area was then examined by the milliprobe, showing that the interior of the buckle was composed of an alloy: Tin 20 %, Lead 16-30 %, Copper 46-66 %. The sliced and polished area showed a very pale golden coloured metal. On the surface there is a plating of greyish metal, probably a tin plating, but this was not analysed.
History
Grave ID
Guilton Grave 10
Object ID
M6001
Catalogue Number
M 6001
Material
copper alloy, white metal (Sonia Hawkes Material Notes; white metal, tin, lead, copper) (Antiquarian Material; whitish metal)