File:Early Medieval to Medieval buckle (FindID 438870).jpg

English: A copper-alloy buckle of probable 11th century date, complete with copper-alloy frame, pin, separate pin bar and plate.

The central portion of the frame is oval and of rectangular cross-section. At its outermost point it extends into a long pin rest in the shape a moulded zoomorphic head. The head faces outwards, its two large, rounded ears framing a V-shaped notch for the pin. The outer sides of the ears merge gradually into the brow of the animal and the ears each have a central circular hollow. At the distal end of the brow, the width of the face narrows and steps downwards into the front portion of the face, which has swollen cheeks and a rounded snout. There is a suggestion of eyes in the vertical face which marks the junction between the brow and the front of the face.

At the opposite side of the solid oval frame, two right-angled loops project backwards, holding in place the axis bar. The buckle's plate also has two looped and perforated tabs, and these are located between those of the plate, the axis bar also passing through them. At the centre of the plate's tabs is the pin, whose loop also contains the axis bar. This pin has, adjacent to its loop, a further moulded zoomorphic head which faces in the same direction as that on the frame. This second head is smaller and of simpler, albeit similar, form, having two pointed ears, a semicircular brow and a parallel-sided muzzle with rounded snout.

The plate is a solid cast element. At the back of its looped tabs the two corners extend into points. Behind these is a narrower, short, parallel-sided length which then flares to the attachment end, which is sub-trapezoidal and has a split attachment, with a central gap into which the now-missing strap would have slotted and been held in place by the two surviving copper-alloy rivets. The surfaces of the buckle have a dull brown, matte appearance.

The buckle measures 58.9mm long, 23.5mm wide and 9.4mm thick. The weight is 20.6g.

This buckle forms part of a small group of 11th century objects found within the same area - see also BH-9BC397, BH-9C3582, BH-9BE588 and BH-9AD904. Stylistically, the zoomorphic head on the frame can be paralleled with that on the stirrup-strap mount BH-9AD904. A buckle bearing a similar moulded pin rest is held in the British Museum collection (see Wilson 1964: 154, no. 49). Parallels on the PAS database include HAMP-C9AB76, LIN-D9C500, BERK-262DA4 and DENO-0F2314.