"Dragon-Devouring Frog Belt Buckle Unearthed, Suggests Lost Pagan Cult Origins"

A bronze belt buckle from the 8th century, featuring a dragon or snake devouring a frog-like creature, has been discovered near Lány in the Czech Republic. This motif, also found on similar artifacts in Germany and Hungary, suggests the existence of a previously unknown pagan cult that connected various Central European populations before Christianity's spread. The artifacts, which were likely worn by the Avars and other regional peoples, were made using the "lost wax" method and originated from a common source of copper in the Slovak Ore Mountains. The symbol's exact meaning remains speculative, but it may relate to creation myths or fertility cult practices.