LIN-6AB680: Roman copper alloy dragonesque brooch

Rights Holder: Lincolnshire County Council
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BROOCH

Unique ID: LIN-6AB680

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation Find awaiting validation

An incomplete copper alloy dragonesque brooch dating to the Roman period. The brooch is broadly 'S' shaped in plan with the lower curve now missing. The brooch originally comprised two serpent-heads facing outwards and joined the base of the neck. The surviving head is comma shaped in plan and has a large circular depression in the centre representing the eye. This cell may have once contained enamel however none now remains. The neck is curved, D-shaped in cross-section and undecorated. Around the neck is a coiled strip of copper alloy that formed the terminal of the pin. The centre of the brooch where the two necks meet is broadly lozenge shaped in plan and openwork. At one side is a pelta or trumpet-shaped moulding with a kidney-shaped opening. Adjacent to this is a circular cell and a larger pointed oval cell. The point of the pointed oval cell is worn and it is possible that it is from this section that the lower neck originally extended, however it is rather narrow and it is difficult to see where the rest of the brooch would have extended. It is possible that the brooch is complete, though it would be of an unusual form and it would be difficult to see how the pin functioned.

Class: Dragonesque

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: ROMAN
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: ROMAN
Subperiod to: Middle
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 43
Date to: Circa AD 250

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 41 mm
Width: 27 mm
Thickness: 5 mm

Personal details

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Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete

Spatial metadata

Region: East Midlands (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Lincolnshire (County)
District: West Lindsey (District)
To be known as: Gainsborough

Spatial coordinates


Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Cultivated land

References cited

No references cited so far.

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Timeline of associated dates

Audit data

Recording Institution: LIN
Created: 12 years ago
Updated: 12 years ago

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