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BROOCH
Unique ID: LANCUM-678545
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Copper alloy gilded spiral saucer brooch dating to the 5th or 6th century AD. The outer rim is upturned rising to a pronounced angular ridge now heavily damaged enclosing an inner platform decorated with running spiral flutings that may well be chip carved or pressed in from a mold. The central raised circle encapsulates a setting for a either a gemstone or cut glass with what appears to be the traces of solder and possibly silver foil in the inner part of the setting. The reverse contains the settings for a pin and catchplate but both are missing. The slight corrosion on the reverse indicates that the pin was made of iron.
The diameter is 22mm, thickness 2mm and the weight 5.67g.
Similar to SUSS-5C6A12, FAHG-1BBCF6 and BERK-A6EC93 on the database.
The brooch is a saucer type brooch. In England these type of brooches tend to be found in burials and date to between the late 5th and 6th centuries. These type of brooches, which are found in female graves, are considered to have played a role in symbolising status, and the design of the brooch may represent an allegiance to a common tradition (Dickinson; 39).
Dickinson, T. 1993 'Early Saxon Saucer Brooches: A Preliminary Overview' Anglo-Saxon Studies in Archaeology and History 6 p. 11-44.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 450
Date to: Circa AD 550
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Width: 2 mm
Weight: 5.67 g
Diameter: 22 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 21st April 2014
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Surface Treatment: Gilded
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
District: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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