Rights Holder: Birmingham Museums Trust
CC License:
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Unique ID: WMID-BB80F6
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
An incomplete copper alloy brooch of Colchester derivative Polden Hill type (Mackreth 2011, Transitional Type 2/3, Group 3.e, flat wing ends, Plate 46, of Roman date (AD 80-120).
Approximately 50% of the brooch is present, consisting of the head, bow and wings. The foot, spring, pin and catch plate are missing, presumably lost in antiquity.
In plan, the brooch is almost T-shaped, and D-shaped in cross section. The bow head is hump-like, and angular (comma shaped) in profile, with cylindral wings projecting from either side at the top. The brooch is decorated by a central wide vertical groove, with another vertical thin groove located on the edge of the bow. The wings each exhibit a thin vertical groove, with a wider vertical groove next to it. Each of the wings have an incomplete sub circular wing cap, with a central piercing to hold the axis bar. The back of the brooch is plain and undecorated. A cylindrical groove is present behind the wings, still retaining part of the spring.
The brooch measures 15.3 mm length, is 23.6 mm wide across wings and 8.9 mm thick. It weighs 6.3 grams.
The brooch is a mid to dark green colour, with an even patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of some of the original surface.
Similar brooches can be seen in Richard Hattatt's Visual Guide to Ancient brooches (p 300, fig 159). A similar brooch has been recorded on the PAS database as WMID-B9A0A7 and WMID-60DFE3.
Reference:
Hattatt, R. (2000) A Visual Catalogue of Richard Hattatt's Ancient Brooches. Oxbow Books, Oxford.
Class:
Colchester derivative, Polden Hill (Mackreth 2011, Part 3, Transitional Type 2/3, Group 3.e, flat wing ends, Plate 46)
Sub class: Mackreth 2011, 3.e. Plate 46.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 80
Date to: Circa AD 120
Quantity: 1
Length: 15.3 mm
Width: 23.6 mm
Thickness: 8.9 mm
Weight: 6.3 g
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4 Figure: SK2704
Four figure Latitude: 52.63308558
Four figure longitude: -1.60249696
1:25K map: SK2704
1:10K map: SK20SE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.