File:Early Medieval buckle (FindID 626798).jpg

English: A cast copper alloy Early-Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) copper alloy buckle frame, probably dating from the 6th century. The frame is rectangular, with a single loop, thick edges and a recessed narrowed bar. The pin is missing. The underside of the buckle is flat and plain but the upper face is decorated with a curved recess either side of the notch for the pin. The recess contains seven raised triangles on each side. The recess would probably have been inlaid with decoration, perhaps in a zig-zag around the raised triangles. Damage at one side of the frame suggests that the inlay may have been deliberately removed. The pin is missing. The notch which would have held the pin measures 2.97mm in width. The object has a dark brown patina and is in good condition.

This buckle belongs to Marzinzik's Type I.6, rectangular with a narrowed bar. Other examples are found in southern and eastern England and date broadly from the sixth century; the closest, with a groove for decoration, is perhaps Chessell Down grave 40 (Marzinzik 2003, 24-5, pl. 16). Two further similar frames, from Mucking II, Essex Grave 823 (Plate 82, p. 199, No. 914a) and from Highdown, West Sussex, Grave 34 (Plate 83, page 200, No. 581) were placed by Marzinzik in her Type II.11 and II.13 on the basis of their attached plates; both again have panels of inlaid decoration, and the Highdown example appears to come from a late fifth-century grave.

A similar example which can be found on the database is HAMP-A0905A, which has gilding and garnet inlays.