Belt Plate - 1st century BC to 1st century AD - Fragment

The left hand 1/3 of what may be a large belt plate.

The edge of the central medallion design can just be made out.

Belt plates that look similar can be found in Bishop and Coulston's Roman Military equipment, 2nd edition, (e.g. figure 33, #2) and many other works.

However, this item is thick and cast, whereas many early belt plates appear to be thin and embossed.

Mills, Celtic and Roman Artefacts notes that these were attached with rivets and indeed a single rivet remains on the reverse of this plate fragment.

The identification remains uncertain at this time.