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Dating a buckle from Gwithian, Cornwall
#1
[Image: cranegodeverygwithian.jpg]
This buckle was found in the excavations of Crane Godevry, the site of a medieval manor (but with possible 5th century occupation), near the major coastal post-roman site at Gwithian, Cornwall.

In several publications by Charles Thomas, the original digger, it is described as a 5th century, sub-roman, buckle, yelding several characteristics common with late roman buckles from which it was derived.
To me such a dating seems consistent with the rectangular shape of the buckle frame, remining of several early 5th century exemples found at for exemple Traprain Law in Scotland or Pont de Buis in Brittany.

However I stambled upon a more recent article on Gwithian by J. Nowakowski - who did most of the work on the site's archive - where she describes it as a 7-8th century merovingian buckle.
It doesn't look like the frankish buckles I know of, yet it would be consistant with the floruit of Gwithian, in the late 6th-7th century with the importation of E-ware from Gaul.

References are:
- Henrietta Quinnell, Anna Lawson-Jones, Jacky Nowakowski, Joanna Sturgess, Carl Thorpe, Charles Thomas, Gwithian, Cornwall: Excavations 1949-1969, Council for British Archaeology, 2007 - http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/arch...N=91851367 et là pour le pdf http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/cata...lume_I.pdf
- Charles Thomas, Britain and Ireland in Early Christian Times, A.D. 400-800, Library of Mediaeval Civilization), 1971.
- Jacqueline A. Nowakowski, Current Archaeology, number 220 - http://www.currentpublishing.com/library...age18.html

What are your thoughts?
"O niurt Ambrois ri Frangc ocus Brethan Letha."
"By the strenght of Ambrosius, king of the Franks and the Armorican Bretons."
Lebor Bretnach, Irish manuscript of the Historia Brittonum.
[Image: 955d308995.jpg]
Agraes / Morcant map Conmail / Benjamin Franckaert
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#2
Quote:What are your thoughts?
Square buckles are unusual for 4th or 5th c. contexts in Britain I think (but I'm no expert). I know only of this continental one from Traprain law (top image): http://www.fectio.org.uk/articles/hwb/fig21.htm

The long, narrow plate however reminds me a lot of similar ones from the 5th c. in Britain, although usually attached to horsehead buckles: http://www.fectio.org.uk/articles/hwb/fig28.htm
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
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#3
Thanks Robert. I know of the Traprain buckle and it came aswell to my mind.

Here the Quoit Brooch style buckle from Pont-de-Buis, Finistère in Western Brittany. Buckle dated late 4th-early 5th century but glassware late 5th-early 6th century. There are also two square quoit brooch style buckles in the main burial at Saint-Marcel, Morbihan in eastern Brittany, in a second quarter of the 5th century context.

[Image: pontdebuis.jpg]
"O niurt Ambrois ri Frangc ocus Brethan Letha."
"By the strenght of Ambrosius, king of the Franks and the Armorican Bretons."
Lebor Bretnach, Irish manuscript of the Historia Brittonum.
[Image: 955d308995.jpg]
Agraes / Morcant map Conmail / Benjamin Franckaert
Reply
#4
Anyone?
"O niurt Ambrois ri Frangc ocus Brethan Letha."
"By the strenght of Ambrosius, king of the Franks and the Armorican Bretons."
Lebor Bretnach, Irish manuscript of the Historia Brittonum.
[Image: 955d308995.jpg]
Agraes / Morcant map Conmail / Benjamin Franckaert
Reply
#5
I think it looks a little bit more towards the early Medieval period.
Brian Stobbs
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