KM181 (Late Roman-Early Byzantine Zoomorphic Bronze Buckle) [permalink] [show more links]
Type
Inventoried Object
Logical part of
Inventoried Objects from the Greek-American Excavations at Koutsongila
Typological identification
Buckle
Comparanda
cf. SchulzeDörrlamm1987, p. 802, fig. 63=SchulzeDörrlamm2002, p. 49, no. 41, pl. 4:1 (eyes are round holes with yellow glass inlay).
Comparanda
sim. Sams1982, pp. 212–214, figs. 10-7 to 10-10 (same zoomorphic motif on steelyard arm, Yasi Ada shipwreck, ca. A.D. 625)
Description
Oval frame with circular section thickens along one side where prong rests; prong has plano-convex section. Both frame and prong connect with heart-shaped body through simple hinge joint with trapezoidal plate at back of body. The sturdy body has form of a boar’s head in three dimensions: head is crowned by thick, triangular ears, from between which central ridge extends down nose to snout. Almond-shaped eyes with dots for pupils are engraved on sides. The snout is delimited by raised edge behind which are two tusks. The bristly hide is rendered by short incised incision. The underside of heart-shaped body has three flat, semi-circular loops for attachment to belt. The large size of this buckle and its location relative to skeletal remains in the grave indicate that it was worn on a waist belt.
Preservation comment
Intact. Excellent condition.
Published as
Panelas2022, pp. 1060-1061, 1086-1087, no. 699, fig. 22.4
Length
0.065
Other Dimensions
Diam. frame 0.026
Other Dimensions
L. prong 0.033
Other Dimensions
Th. body 0.003–0.009
Other Dimensions
Th. frame 0.018
Other Dimensions
W. body 0.009–0.029
Belongs to Historical Period
Early Byzantine (Historical Period)
Material
Bronze (Material)
Suggested citation
“KM181 (Late Roman-Early Byzantine Zoomorphic Bronze Buckle).” In Kenchreai Archaeological Archive, edited by J.L. Rife and S. Heath. The American Excavations at Kenchreai, 2013-2025. <http://kenchreai.org/gaek/km181>