This group of buckles has often been dealt with, but mostly they have been only superficially analyzed. In the existing literature appear misleading denominations like "Hunnic buckles", that allege a certain ethnic origin, even if an author argues more complex. Contrary to this others regard them as items of an international barbarian costume, that developed in the Danubian area.

The article tries to give a more concrete insight into the origin and spread of this type of buckles on the basis of detailed studies.

It is demonstrated, that this type developed indeed after the Hunnic invasion in the Danubian area, where the greatest amount has been found. Features of barbarian and Mediterranian buckle types were combined there. Buckles with excellently cut gem stones in cloisonné settings appear nearly only within the border of the Roman Empire or in directly neighbouring areas. Most of the fewer buckles similar to the "Danubian ones", that have been found in remote areas, like in Caucasia and Kazakhstan are clearly imitations of these Danubian pieces. They have other features and inferior in technique, especially as regards the stone setting. Often only single stones are used. If cloisonné appears at all, the stones of the whole setting are second hand. Therefore, terms like "Hunnic" should not be used at all, since these buckles only appear in Hunnic finds in the Danube or Black Sea area. They have been added there to the mixed material culture of the Hunnic aristocracy after the Huns' arrival. The typical "Danubian buckles" in these finds have by no means been produced by Hunnic goldsmiths. Furthermore, the buckles have been much more often found in graves of barbarians, that partly may have belonged to the Hunnic confederacy, but have a totally other ethnic background.

Several features of the buckles make it obvious, that Roman craftsmanship must have played an important role in the workshops, that produced them. Such an interpretation has already been given for the big buckle of the grave of Regöly some time ago. Undoubtedly this proposal can be extended to much more items. There are many arguments that back this thesis. For example, some buckles are closely related by technical features to later, more developed buckle types, that have been found in graves of barbarian warlords of the second half of the 5th century and are surely of Roman production.

The buckles can therefore be regarded as part of the mixed, intrenational costume of the so called "late Antique military aristocracy". The production of these buckles, however, needed certain technical skills and Roman craftsmanship played an important role in the development of this Danubian group. In these workshops barbarian and Roman elements have been combined. At least a certain part can be regarded as diplomatic gifts or donations to allied barbarians.