BROOCH

A Roman period copper alloy horse and rider plate brooch facing right and measuring 24mm long, 23mm wide, and 2mm thick. The brooch weighs 3.1g and is decorated with 5 cells, some of which contain enamel.

The brooch is sub rectangular in form and rectangular in section; with two protrusions which form the majority of head of the horse as a square and the rider itself is sub rectangular in shape. Three smaller sub rectangular protrusions form part of the tail, fore and hind limbs.The brooch shows the majority of the horse and a complete rider.

The horse portion of the brooch is decorated with 3 cells; the first cell is sub circular in nature and located runs between the neck and forelimb of the horse, being blue in colour. A second sub circular cell exists just behind it, and again is blue in colour. A final linear cell runs along the base of the horse from the mid point before curling into the hind limb of the animal. A number of striations in the top of the horses neck seem representative of a mane. Tinning surrounds the two front cells, with some evidence of it surrounding the linear cell.

The rider portion of the brooch has 2 enamel cells, none of which contain enamel. The first cell is sub circular existing just below the neck of the horse. A second cell runs down the centre of the rider, stopping where rider meets horse. The rider seems to have hair of some kind, being illustrated with vertical striations on the top of the head. Tinning is also present around the cells of the rider and seems to separate horse from rider.

The reverse of the brooch consists of a copper alloy spring and catch plate, being located on the hind and fore haunches of the horse. Some iron staining appears present around the spring and catch plate itself. A small area of tinning also exists on the neck line of the rider.

This is a Roman zoomorphic/anthropomorphic horse and rider plate brooch similar to examples from the Hockwold group (Gurney, 1986: pp. 65, Fig. 41) and from elsewhere in Suffolk (e.g. SF-A332A2, SF-25CEA4 or SF-429484). The horse and rider types are often found in groups on religious sites and are commonest in north Suffolk / Norfolk / Cambs/Leics and Lincs, ie in and around Icenian territory, but also in Hampshire (Hayling Island) and Somerset (Lamyatt Beacon). Dated contexts indicate 3rd and 4th century AD use.