Belt buckles, iron

From the mass graves, the Cross Meadow, Visby parish, Gotland, 1250-1361 A.D. Buckles look and are used in more or less the same way now as they were then. They have been used as a part of an outfit, to keep different items of clothing in place or on belts. Clasps also occur in other contexts, i.e. on bags, suits of armour and horse tack. These have probably been used as belt buckles. The way buckles were designed varied greatly during the Middle Ages. The fashion-conscious could have a richly decorated belt with metal rivets sewn on to it. As a crossbowman would draw his weapon with the aid of a hook attached to his belt, he needed one that was sturdy.