Bronze Buckle Caesarea 2

[v-drome]

Hi all.  Here is a small bronze buckle from Caesarea Maritima.  I saw some similar items in the excellent numiswiki article on Military Belts, but nothing exactly like it.  Any ideas on date and use would be appreciated.  I am also wondering if the attachment points on the underside are an unusual feature, since most photos I have seen only show the tops.  Thanks, V-drome.

BCC MA9
Bronze Buckle
Uncertain date
Kidney shaped ring and
amphora? shaped openwork
plate.
Length:35mm. wt.4.71gm.

(click for larger pic)

[SC]

Very nice.  This is a late type usually associated with Germanic people's from the late 5th-6th century, though nicer ones like this are believed to be made in Byzantine workshops.

The attachment points are interesting.  These could be used for belts and other small straps and possibly on clothing.  The two attachment points imply that they went through some leather or fabric and were then fixed with something that passed through the eyes. 

There are parallels on some of the 7th century Byzantine buckles.

Shawn

[v-drome]

Thank you, Shawn.  That was very helpful.  I found some nice 7th century parallels when I searched for "byzantine buckles".  Can anyone tell me if there is a technical term to describe the openwork motif on this example?  I did not see it on any other photos of the buckles I saw.

Regards, Jimi (v-drome)