BROOCH

Roman copper alloy bow brooch of Trumpet type and of 1st or 2nd century AD date
The brooch is incomplete, missing the spring and foot (with a surviving length of 36.0mm, a surviving depth of 18.9mm and a weight of 7.7g). The missing spring was secured around a single, perforated D-shaped lug on the rear of the head. Remains of an iron axis bar survive within the perforation. The head is oval (with a width of 9.1mm and length of 11.7mm), including a plate above the bow. It is possible that the head-plate was surmounted with an integral chain-loop, now lost. The upper bow is of D-shaped section but is worn and probably originally of sub-triangular or sub-lozenge section, since the rear of the bow also has a central ridge. The sides are concave and expand towards the button. The top and base of the button are defined by leaf-mouldings. The button comprises a rib with an incised cross-hatch. The leg is of D-shaped section with straight sides converging to the break. A slight rib on the centre of the rear of the leg indicates the position of the catch-plate, now lost. The surface has a dark-brown patina, surviving over much of the brooch.

The brooch form is generally consistent with Hull's 'Chester' Type 154, which he dated from the late 1st to early 2nd century AD. Hattatt (1987, pp 130) states that the type is seen to have a distribution concentrated in the South West of Britain.

~~ Hattatt, R. 1987; Brooches of Antiquity