Buckle ideas?

[dts52]

Hello. I found this yesterday in an area which was once farmland and was most likely clear cut during the charcoal production days of NW Connecticut. Any ideas of the age? The general area also holds more modern stuff like shotgun shells and old beer cans. Thanks for your suggestions.
HH
dts

 

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[CRUSADER]

Horse Bridle Buckle

 

[CRUSADER]

PS. Tough one to date as they didn't change much from the late 19th C until present. Someone might narrow it?

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on the nice relic find!

Crusader has is right!

 

[dts52]

Horse Bridle Buckle

Thanks, CRUSADER. I appreciate your input and I'm sure you're right. I was surprised by its weight. I thought at first it might have been a belt buckle like people wore in the late 60's (not to be confused with my current late 60's) when we needed wide belts with cool buckles to hold up our frayed at the cuff, bell-bottom jeans, but this far too heavy and the opening the for the belt portion is far too narrow. I've got it soaking in apple cider vinegar right now. I'll give it a good cleaning and see if I can get anymore detail. Depending on how well it cleans up, I might use is as belt buckle myself - to hold up the pants (NOT bell bottoms) on my tired old late 60's a**. LOL
HH
dts

 

[dts52]

Thanks, PoE. Found in a new spot where I'm still trying to figure out the lay of the land. A couple small (75' X 60') flat areas with nothing but ferns (as opposed to the surrounding hardwoods) looked promising as the former location of a barn / house but not a single target. No signs of a foundation, either. Maybe newer enclosures using barber wire, not sure. I'll definitely be back there.
HH
dts