File:Medieval Spur Buckle (FindID 403978).jpg

English: A cast copper-alloy buckle frame with integral plate of Medieval date (1200-1400), probably a spur buckle. This buckle is misshapen due to damage whilst in ploughsoil. It has an oval shaped frame and an integral plate, sub-rectangular in plan. The frame is sub-oval shaped in cross-section and is bent backwards through 180°. The plate is slightly convex at the front and flat at the rear. It is bent upwards and measures (if straightened) 41.7 x 7.6mm. However, at the attachment end, it widens to form a square shape which is flat on both faces and measures 9.5 x 9.3mm. It terminates with a pointed knop. Within the square-shaped feature there is a slightly off-centre circular rivet hole, 2.4mm in diameter. The rivet is missing. There is another rivet hole at the other end of the plate close to the pin-hole. This hole contains the remains of an iron rivet. Between this rivet and the edge of the frame, the circular pin-hole has a diameter of 2.7mm. The pin is missing. The object is corroded and has no patina. Where the surface of the metal is visible, the colour is dull matt brown. Both faces are partially covered in loose light green copper-alloy corrosion products. There are traces of gilding on the front. Overall length (if straightened): 52.7mm; width: 15.9mm; thickness: 2.8mm. Weight: 3.77g. Similar buckle frames with integral plates are noted from Medieval London (Egan and Pritchard, 1991: nos. 320-321, fig. 48) with a suggested use as spur buckles. These are dated to the 13th or 14th centuries.