BROOCH

An incomplete cast copper alloy Roman brooch, probably of Polden Hill type, dating to the first century AD. The remains of the brooch consist of half of the copper alloy spring mechanism, with six remaining coils and a half of the spring chord held in place with a copper alloy axial bar and double-lugged pierced head. The cross bar is cylindrial with circular end caps that have a central circular piercing to accommodate the axial pin. Both of the crossbar arms are decorated on the outer face with what look like a series of five to six simple raised vertical ridges. The head is curved high, with a central raised rib running from the second pierced lug down to the tapering simple foot. It is possible that this central rib had further incised decoration, but it is difficult to discern due to surface abrasion. A lightly incised line runs on either vertical perimeter edge of the brooch body, emphasising the shape of the brooch; this becomes less clear at the point where the brooch body meets the catchplate. The reverse is undecorated, save for a large perforated sub-triangular catchplate with central sub-triangular perforation and outer curved edge. This edge would have accommodated the pin, now missing. The catchplate covers approximately the lower half of the brooch on the reverse face. The brooch has an even dark green patina. Cf. Hattatt 2007, p. 300, Fig. 159, esp. no. 899; however this is not an exact parallel.

The brooch measures approximately 51 mm long, 33.2 mm wide, 11.4 mm thick (at spring), 13.2 mm thick (at catchplate); weight: 13.79 grams.