Belt mounts

A rich grave was discovered in a burial field near Geldrop in 1996. It must have contained the remains of a man who died around the mid-7th century. Aside from items including a horseman’s spurs, the grave also contains a large number of rusty lumps of metal. X-ray analysis of these lumps reveals that they contain 24 belt mounts with a buckle and tongue, all inlaid with brass, silver and semi-precious stones.