The puzzling depiction of a vicious predator — either a dragon or a snake — devouring a frog on an early medieval belt buckle from the Czech Republic may be a symbol from an unknown pagan cult, archaeologists say.
The bronze belt fitting or buckle was found by a metal detectorist near the village of Lány, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of Prague.
Archaeologists first thought the central design — a snake or dragon devouring a frog-like creature — must be unique. But they have since learned that in the past dozen years, almost identical artifacts have been unearthed in Germany, Hungary and elsewhere in the Czech Republic.
How does a buckle like that work? What part buckles the belt in place?
The two spokes at the bottom were for one end to be fastened on permanently and on the back side at the top (frog’s head) would be one spoke for the temporary buckling. I’m guessing…
The holes at the bottom were probably tacked into a strip of leather and secured, and I’d imagine there’s some sort of stud or hook on the backside of the buckle.