The Portable Antiquities Scheme

Cite record | Embed record | Print | | Report

This cast copper alloy brooch is an Anglo-Saxon small long brooch of Leeds (1945) square headed (plain) class. The square headplate is heavily corroded but the decoration can just be seen. There is a large ring-and-dot motif in the centre of the headplate, bordered by 3 to 6 smaller ring-and-dot punhcmarks to the left and right of the central design. The exact amount of smaller punchmarks on the headplate is unclear due to the amount of corrosion and the poor quality photograph used for identification. The worn edge of the headplate may also suggest that it is incomplete, thus further decoration may have originally been present. The headplate is attached to a short, undecorated bow. The lozenge-form footplate is heavily worn, with damaged edges and a worn break at the terminal. The decoration on the footplate is similar to the headplate, with a large ring-and dot motif in the centre.

Three smaller ring-and-dot punches can be seen to the right of this central design, running along the length of the footplate. The lower punchmark is incomplete due to a worn break on the edge of the footplate. To the left of the central design one complete and one partial ring-and-dot punchmark can be seen parallel to those on the right. The worn and broken edge has most likely removed a third punchmark from this side. The reverse of the brooch is unknown as it has been identified from a front facing photograph. The hinge and catchplates are usually intergrally cast with the brooch, and are situated behing the headplate and footplate respectively. Small long brooches usually have a sprung iron pin, however it is unknown if traces of this survive. The colouration and patina of the brooch is also unknown. This brooch is approximately 30mm long and 15mm wide. Small long brooches date from the early Anglo-Saxon period, circa 475AD through to circa 525AD.

• Leeds, E. T., 1945 The distribution of the Angles and Saxons archaeologically considered, Archaeologia, 91, pp1-106 fig 25b..

QR barcode

If you have a mobile phone equipped with QR recognition software, you can go directly to the webpage that this record resides at. Every record has an individual one of these.

Comment on this artefact's record

Audit data

Created: Friday 15th December 2000
Updated: Thursday 24th February 2011