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BROOCH
Unique ID: LVPL-106703
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A cast copper alloy bow brooch of the Wirral type dating to the Roman period. The object is a hinged example. The head is stepped as is typical of this type and is incomplete due to ancient breaks and the headloop missing. The lower step of the head is decorated with a series of vertical grooves. Above this the head is worn and no decoration is visible.
The upper bow is decorated with three raised vertical panels containing a series of cells. There are approximately five cells in each panel however they are not well defined due to wear. Each cell would have contained enamel, usually in alternating colours, however the remaining enamel is degraded and is a 'rust' orange colour where visible.
Below the panels is a slight raised rounded knop which is worn. The bow tapers below the knop and terminates with an ancient break just above the foot. On the rear of the brooch the pin and catchplate are missing. The axis bar is visible projecting from one side at the rear of the head. The object has a mid-brown patina.
The Wirral brooch is thought to have been derived from the trumpet brooch and dates from the 2nd century AD. This type of brooch is known as the Wirral type as the earliest discovery of this type was from the Wirral and it also now thought that this is where the main (if not only) production site was based (Philpott; 1999; 275).
Class: Wirral
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 100
Date to: Circa AD 200
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 34.66 mm
Width: 11.48 mm
Thickness: 8.42 mm
Weight: 9 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 30th July 2014
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Enamel
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Inlaid with enamel
References cited
No references cited so far.
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