Description

Summary: 1 oval buckle with decorated rectangular plate, the loop is of copper formaly encased in silver sheet with bronze pin and the plate is of bronze mercury gilded with a silver plate on the back and a central rectangular garnet and stylised animal figure, from Grave 22, from the pagan Saxon cemetery called 'Black Patch' at Blacknall Field, Pewsey, Wiltshire, excavated by Ken Annable and the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, 1969-1976.

Research results

An Early Medieval buckle and decorative plate, found with an older adult male in Grave 22 of the Blacknall field cemetery, Pewsey, excavated by Ken Annable and the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, 1969-1976. Both the buckle and plate are of copper alloy, the former with a white metal coat and the latter being mercury gilded, as well as being decorated with a central garnet and two stylised animals. These animals are depicted in Salin's style I, an art style which typically depicts hihgly stylised animals and human masks, and originates in southern scandinavia.

This object was examined by Leah Moradi of the University of Exeter as part of her study investigating shamanistic and totemic practices and beliefs in fifth to seventh century Wessex and East Anglia through depictions of humans and animals on contemporary grave goods. Her study found that anthropo- and zoomorphic decoration was most often found with mature women between the ages of around 25 and 40, suggesting that some members of this group may have held a special status. She also notes that anthropomorphic depictions and the use of gold or gilding was more common in the wessex region, whilst depictions of certain animals, especially horses and birds, were far rarer; this may imply regional variation in belief structures, or the traditions of display through which they were presented.