BROOCH

A complete copper-alloy Roman zoomorphic plate brooch. It is in the form of a backwards facing animal, probably a stag, walking or running to the right and with head turned backwards to face towards its tail. The animal has an oval head that is D-shaped in section and with an elongated snout that has a slight constriction just above the mouth and small notch on the outer edge indicating the mouth is partially open. It has a lozenge shaped eye with central circular indentation. Above this is an oval ear with central oval shaped indentation, and from the top of the head extends antlers that curve to form an almost complete ring and which are decorated on their outer edges with multiple triangular notches. The body of the animal is roughly oval in form and D-shaped in section with small projecting triangular at the hind quarters, projecting phallus and moulded decoration on the flanks. This comprises a single circular indentation at the hind quarters, with a larger oval or rectangular field running the length of the body and curving up the neck to the base of the head. The front leg curves forwards from the body before tapering downwards to a hoof that is defined by a transverse constriction. It projects from the plate slightly and is separated from the body by a deep transverse groove at juncture of body and leg. The hind leg is much shorter, D-shaped in section and lacks the definition of the hoof seen on the foreleg. Both hooves join a ground line that is rectangular in form, D-shaped in section and decorated with multiple vertica notches. This runs the length of the brooch and presumably represents the ground on which the animal is standing.

On the back face of the plate, at the hind quarters of the animal, is an integrally cast double lug that is D-shaped in section and with central circular aperture through which extends a separately cast copper-alloy rivet that holds the pin in place. The separately cast pin is flat, oval sectioned and tapers to a relatively sharp tip that extends beyond the front of the plate, measuring 33.20mm in length. At the opposite end of the plate, behind the foreleg of the animal, is the integral catchplate, which is rectangular in form and section and projects from the plate. This has a curving hooked terminal that holds in place the pin.

The entire object has a dark brown patina with traces of green copper-alloy corrosive products. It measures 30.27mm in height/length, 31.43mm in width, 4.26mm in thickness (at plate; 14.85mm including catchplate), and 9.02g in weight.

Thsi is a Roman zoomorphic plate brooch, probably in the form of a stag or similar creature. It finds parallels in an example published by Mackreth (2011: no. ) and from Norfolk (NMS-365796) and Essex (SWYOR-201A54). It differs slightly through the apparent lack of enamelling on the front face of the brooch, which is either now completely absent in the recessed fields due to post-depositional corrosion or was never present on the brooch. It is likely to date to the 2nd century AD or later.