Copper-alloy, 35.67 grams, 43.44 mm. 4th century. The Goths are first detectable in the Chernyakhov Culture of the Ukraine, successor to the earlier Wielbark Culture of the southern and eastern Baltic. This buckle, of eastern Baltic origin, shares features with examples from the Crimean Ostrogothic (East Gothic) culture where such loops are usually attached to an 'eagle-type' buckle plate; the hinge-bar is certainly wide enough to accommodate such a plate. However, its tongue has a transverse rectangular plate bearing ring-and-dot decoration at each end and a billeted border, which is reminiscent of the 6th c. Frankish 'shield-on-tongue' form of buckle. The oval loop is curved and widens at the outer edges, and is decorated with incised segmentation. An unusual and very interesting transitional form of Germanic belt-buckle in good overall condition, its tongue and the transverse bar fused to the loop. Reference: Menghin, W., Bertram, M. & Helwich, B. The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, München, 2007, p.515 item VII.422 and cf. p.75 fig.4. Very fine condition. From an old English collection with old collection label. Found Livonia.