References
Iron Age Cemeteries in East Yorkshire. Dr Ian Stead, British Museum Press 1991 (way out of print)
British Iron Age Swords and Scabbards I M Stead (British Museum Press 2006) ISBN 0714123234
Iron Age Communities in Britain. Barry Cunliffe, Routledge, 1991
Waist Belts
Modern style buckles (as worn by the Romans) are not correct for the Iron age.
What is used are more like "toggles"; the wide part is attached to the belt and a slit cut in the other end for the loop to pass through.
Simple belts can be made using an organic toggle made of things such as antler (like left), bone, horn or wood.
Several traders make good quality replicas of iron age toggle fasteners in bronze and also enamelled. The one on the right is by Nodge Nolan.
Sword Belts
Chain belts are not accurate either for our period or for this country.
When a sword is found in situ, and a suspension method is still present then the most common find with it are two rings and one toggle. The rings are usually positioned either side of the scabbard "runner" (the loop that is fastened to the scabbard).
Many swords are not found with any evidence of a suspension method, which probably indicates that it was entirely organic in nature.
The "runners" attached to many scabbards are loops through which the belt passes. With the two ring method, then a short length of leather is likely to be passed through the "runner" and attached to the two rings. If just a single piece of leather is used, i.e. running one side of the scabbard then the scabbard tends to move about unduly. We have found that passing the leather around both sides of the scabbard provides a more stable arrangement.
It is possible to use the two ring suspension method on swords without runners, especially if the scabbard is made slightly tapered.
Some scabbards have a runner that is attached midway down it's length.
In addition, there are several chalk figurines from Yorkshire with what appears to warriors carrying the sword on their backs.
Some graves may have the sword in situ on the back.
It is possible to create a suspension method without the mid runner, which is fairly secure. However, it's not easy to get your sword out or back in !!!
However, it is very good for carrying about.
Other articles
Making a simple toggle belt