This openwork buckle was made of bronze in the period from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century CE. The buckle frame was decorated by the craftsman in a geometric style; it was given a sub-rectangular shape with a crossing in the center. Similar objects with a fixed prong were widely used in the nomadic world during the Early Iron Age and the Xiongnu-Sarmatian period. The bronze buckle was found among the items of the treasure trove of a caster of the Xiongnu-Sarmatian era, which was discovered in the suburban area of the village of Ai-Dai in the city of Sayanogorsk in 2002.

During the development of the Tes archaeological culture, to which the buckle belongs, many traditions originated. Subsequently, they were adopted by another culture, the Tashtyk culture, which formed on the territory of the Minusinsk basin near the turn of the new era and was developing until the 5th century.

Two historically known peoples — the Xiongnu (Hunni) in the east and the Sarmatians in the west — played a leading role in the processes that led to changes in the economy, material, spiritual, everyday culture and social relations. Belt buckles during this period were made mainly of bronze.

Among such artifacts, scientists have identified two main types: buckles with a protruding movable prong, which was used to attach a belt, as well as buckles with a movable tongue, resembling modern analogues. Both were known from the very beginning of the Tashtyk culture, and the former always prevailed over the latter. It was only at the third and last stage of the culture’s existence that buckles with a movable tongue started to prevail in the crypts of the Tashtyk people. Later, they would remain the only known ones.

Ring and eight-shaped buckles with fixed tongues were common throughout the Xiongnu-Sarmatian period. At the same time, the period of the greatest spread of eight-shaped buckles occurred mainly in the period from the 3rd to the 2nd century BCE, and ring buckles — in the 2nd century BCE. The fashion for belt plaques clearly had an oriental origin. It was probably related to the migration of nomadic groups that was taking place at that time. Plaques from Sarmatian burials were made by local craftsmen according to Oriental standards.