2024-03-28T21:23:59+00:00https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/134976/format/qrcodehttps://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/134976/format/jsonhttps://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/134976/format/xmlhttps://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/134976/format/geojsonhttps://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/134976/format/pdfhttps://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/134976/format/rdfhttps://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/134976134976SUSS-FFC705001448FFC9601827BROOCHsupporting arm40.222.113.312.311EARLY MEDIEVAL400450An incomplete copper alloy early Anglo-Saxon supporting arm brooch with a wide rectangular head. This is decorated with a raised rim along the top, a pair of incised parallel lines across the centre, and another pair of parallel lines at the junction of head and bow. On the reverse of the head, each end has a pierced lug which projects backwards, creating a box shape to house the pin mechanism. The end of the copper-alloy axis bar survives in one lug, but the rest of the pin mechanism is missing.
The head tapers to the bow, which is arched, thin and wide; it is D-shaped in cross-section for most of its length, but has flat panels to top and bottom. The bow is otherwise undecorated. The foot then flares out again, and is decorated similarly to the head; with a moulded ridge across the junction with the bow, a pair of parallel incised lines across the centre, and then it finally terminates with a raised ridge along the base of the foot.
The catch plate also survives, positioned on the reverse of the foot, just above the bottom of the brooch. The catchplate and the reverse of the brooch are both undecorated. The surface of the metal is slightly pitted. Length: 40.2 mm, width: 22.1 mm, thickness: 12.3 mm, weight: 13.3 g.
This type of brooch dates from the early to mid 5th century AD (MacGregor and Bolick 1993, 150). It was divided by Böhme (1974) into two sub-types, based on the width of the head, work later summarised in English by Evison (1977). Böhme's Typ Mahndorf is defined by a head width of 25-30mm, and his Typ Perlberg by a head width of 12-22mm. Since then, brooches have been found with head widths that fall in between these two groups. It is not particularly clear which this example belongs to; at 22.1mm it is borderline in terms of width, and the wide flaring foot is commoner on the Typ Mahndorf.2006-06-14 13:09:582024-02-13 13:19:513111990-01-011993-01-011Certain1123114747001448FFC960182772SUSSCopper alloy10627IncompleteEARLY MEDIEVALEMx41022p0gjgrshhcwEARLY MEDIEVALEMx41022p0gjgrshhcwMetal detectorCircaCirca13460326252660267841421Restricted AccessTQ5600TQ50SENear Eastbourne61001056071-155s.jpg294273Early medieval : Brooch (reverse) Sussex Archaeological Society5images/lwilson/South EastCharacter undeterminedCultivated landEuropean RegionCountyEast SussexDistrictWealdenCivil Parish50.79720.216931Restricted AccessReturned to finder96665