Record ID: NMGW3205 - IRON AGE brooch

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BROOCH

Unique ID: NMGW3205

Object type certainty: Certain

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Copper alloy, Langton Down type brooch. Flat bow of a small curvature expanding towards the missing foot. The bow is decorated with fluted reeding which runs along its entire length and terminates at the moulded transverse rib located at the bow's junction with the spring-cover. The catch plate is deformed and partly missing but contained a single perforation of indeterminate shape. The cylindrical spring-cover is open along a slit on the back of the brooch and at either end. Only two incomplete fragments of the brooch survive. The bow has been bent through ninety degrees, although it is uncertain whether this occurred during antiquity or not. The entire spring and pin element is missing. Surviving length c.47mm. An example of Hull's Class B (cf. Hawkes and Hull 1947, 317), closely paralleled by published examples from near Wimbourne, Dorset (Hattatt 1985, 36, no.269, fig.15) and France (Hattatt 1987, 43, no.770, fig.16). Although a number of examples of the type are known from pre-Roman contexts the majority of British examples are presumed to date to the early Roman period. In general, British examples of the type are dated from the second and into the third quarter of the first century AD (Hattatt 1982, 80; Mackreth 1994, 294).

Notes:

Langton Down type brooches were first defined and discussed by Wheeler in the Lydney excavation report (Wheeler and Wheeler 1932, 71-74, no.2, fig.10) and have subsequently discussed by Hull (Hawkes and Hull 1947, 317-320), Hattatt (1982, 80-82, nos.39-42, figs.29-30; 1985, 35-37, nos.269-273, fig.15; 1987, 41-44, nos.768-776, fig.16; 1989, 29, no.1464, fig.13) and Mackreth (1994, 292-294, nos.18-22, fig.133). These two-piece brooches are typified by a wide flat reeded bow without a foot knob (Hattatt 1982, 80) and an almost cylindrical spring housing which is only open along a slit at the back and the ends (Hattatt 1985, 35). Hull subdivided the type into three classes: Class A which is the largest and possibly earliest group, over 50mm in length with a cylindrical spring-cover, frequently engraved and wide reeded flat bow; Class B is smaller and more common, with a cylindrical or semi-cylindrical spring-cover, usually convex bow with low flanking bevels, a catch-plate which is a low marginal rib and occasionally relief ornament on the spring-cover (Hawkes and Hull 1947, 317; Hattatt 1982, 80). In addition to the three main classes a number of variants are also known. Langton Down type brooches are notable being the first type to hide the spring mechanism in a cylindrical housing. The spring and pin mechanism was given tension by the chord pressing against the internal face of the cylindrical spring-cover. The type was current in Gaul from late in the first century BC until the mid first century AD and was presumably derived from the Nauheim and La Tene III types of brooch (Hattatt 1985, 36; Mackreth 1994, 292). In Britain the type's distribution is mainly restricted ton the south-east of a line from the Wash to Dorset, although outliers are known (Hattatt 1985, 36).

Class: Langton Down

Subsequent actions

Current location of find: returned to finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: IRON AGE
Period from: IRON AGE [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Period to: ROMAN [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Date from: Post 15 BC
Date to: Ante AD 60

Dimensions and weight

Length: 47 mm
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Completeness: Fragment [scope notes | view all attributed records]

Spatial data

Region: Wales
County: Monmouthshire
District: Monmouthshire
Parish: Usk

Restricted 4 Figure grid reference: SO3800
The map has been degraded and provides an approximate location with a degree of random obfuscation.
Grid reference source: GPS (From FLO)
Grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.

Method of discovery: Metal detector [scope notes]
General landuse: Other [scope notes]
Specific landuse: Unknown [scope notes]

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 31st August 1999

Personal details

Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Recorded by: Philip MacDonald - [ view all attributed records]
Identified by: Philip MacDonald - [view all attributed records]

Other reference numbers

Other reference: NMGWPA: 99.68.4

References cited

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