BROOCH

Incomplete copper alloy brooch of Colchester derivative, Polden Hill (Mackreth Group 4, flat wing ends), Mackreth 2011, 4.l. Plate 48. The wings are incomplete, the extant wing is semi-cylindrical with perforated wing / end cap. The axis bar, spring and pin are missing. The axis bar, spring - pin may have been formed from iron as large amounts of iron corrosion are present solely around the head of the brooch. The iron corrosion has preserved the outline of the spring which was formed with a minimum of eight turns and was attached by an external chord to a rearward facing hook. This hook is located at the centre of the wings on the upper edge. The bow head of the brooch is hump-like, and slightly angular. The bow is D shaped in cross section. It tapers to a broken pointed foot. The catch plate, pin rest and foot knop are all missing. The catchplate extends from a vertical rib which starts below the head of the brooch. The remains of the catch plate have been badly affected by abrasion in the ploughsoil. The brooch measures 61.1mm length, 19.3mm width (across wings), 9.3mm width across bow, is 7.5mm thick across the bow and weighs 18.44 grams. The brooch is decorated with a number of both cast and applied motifs. These have all too some extent been obscured by a combination of corrosion and abrasion. The head of the brooch is decorated with two vertical grooves which extend / sweep from the rearward facing hook toward the foot of the brooch. Each of these grooves is flanked by a repeating parallel decoration of stylised waves which have been formed from an applied silver wire (?). The majority of this decoration is lost. The other visible decoration consists of two large ribs at the junction between the brooch and the wing casing. The brooch is a mid green colour with an even but much abraded patina. Where abrasion has occurred it is most significant around the edges if the artefact. Movement in the plough soil has also distorted the profile of the brooch. The patina has also been removed by pitting from fertilizers / acid, where this pitting occurs light green active corrosion is present. Similar brooches can be seen in Richard Hattatt's Visual Guide to Ancient brooches pp 300 fig; 159 and Bayley and Butcher: Roman Brooches in Britain pp 89-92.