Composition of the Alloy of Civilian Belt Sets of the Roman Period and the Era of the Great Migration of Peoples from Eastern Crimea

Abstract

This work analyzes the elemental composition of the buckles and belt end pieces discovered in eastern Crimea by metal-detectorists and submitted for study to academic research institutions. As part of the study, the alloy composition of 13 specimens of buckles and their fragments, as well as 5 specimens of belt end pieces, is studied in detail. These items date back to the second half of the 1st century to the beginning of the 5th century. Most of the items were in use in the second half of the 2nd century and the first half of the 3rd century. The study reveals that the majority of the items are made of zinc-containing alloys, including pure brass and multicomponent alloys.