BROOCH

Iron Age La Tene I type brooch dating to the 4th to 3rd centuries BC. The brooch is complete, comprising of a sprung head also forming the pin, a curved bow and foot with catchplate. The brooch has been cast as one piece. When viewed from the back, the head is formed from the top of the bow, which becomes thinner and circular in section forming a thick wire. This coils twice to the right of the bow, loops over the top of the head and coils twice towards the centre. At this point the wire forms the pin which projects downwards from the head to the foot, tapering to a point as it does so.

The bow curves away from the head to form an arched central section before flattening back out. It is 'D' shaped in section with a flat back and convex front. The foot is formed from the lower flat section, with the catchplate extending to the right when viewed from the front. This bends upwards at the outer edge to form the pin rest. The foot continues a short way below the catchplate before curving forwards c. 180 degrees. This terminates in two ridges across the front of the foot before expanding to a circular knop.

The brooch is decorated with incised and stamped designs on the bow and foot. To each side of the arched section of the bow are sets of three indented lines across the width on the front, producing two ridges. Extending down the centre of the bow running from the upper cross lines to the lower is a row of stamped circles flanked by parallel incised lines. Similarly, the side faces each have a line of stamped circles that follows the contours of the arch, flanked by incised lines. The back of the catchplate section has a saltire cross covering the width of the foot, with three transverse lincised ines to the top and bottom. On the back of the bow are regularly spaced indented transverse lines but it is not clear if these are decorative or the result of manufacturing. It measures 51.2 mm long, 16.7 mm wide at the head, 8.3 mm at the bow and 4.6 mm thick at the bow, 2.8 mm at the foot. It is 16.7 mm in height and weighs 14.65 g.

Similar, less decorated examples can be see in Hattatt (2000; 288, fig 147), number 220 and 724, dated from the 4th to 3rd centuries BC.