Could this be part of a buckle (fashion or harness)? It looks like the other end is broken off. Cross bar is raised. Found on late 1700s site among the 1000 cat food cans and bits of modern garbage.
Thank you BuckleBoy, if you remember let me know, that at least gives me another term to google. (I'm from Louisiana originally but have never hunted there. I'm so envious of your amazing permissions/finds!)