Ostrogothic silver buckle with the earliest depiction of the cross

Second half of VI century

Oval loop; hooked tongue with stylized beak and knobbed eyes, both hinged to a rectangular plate. Decorated with a cross in relief. Raised double border along the perimeter with knobbed rivets at the corners. Complete with original back plate. Small area of collapsed metal at the bottom of lower part of rectangular plate. L. 3.6″(9.4cm).
See: A. Aibabin, ?Ethnischegeschichte der Fruhbyzantinischen Krim?, 1999, p. 131, pl. 53, 1.