BROOCH

An incomplete cast copper alloy Roman brooch of Colchester derivative, Polden Hill (Mackreth 2011, Part 3, Group 4. k, flat wing ends type). The wings are semi-cylindrical terminating with incomplete perforated wing caps. The axis bar, spring and pin are all missing. The wings are undecorated. The bowhead is hump-like but has unusual decoration/moulding in the form of an oval domed platform which has three very small circular cells. The junction of the bow head and bow has a narrowed strip, and is oval in section. Above the narrowed strip, on the underside of the bow head is bordered by fine oblique grooves. Below the narrowed strip and the upper portion of the bow is again decorated with an unusual moulding in the form of a sub triangle domed platform with three high-relief annulets in each corner. The lower portion of the bow is undecorated, triangular in section and terminates with a slightly bulbous foot. The reverse of the bow there is a complete solid catchplate. The surface of the brooch has a mid green/grey patina and has traces of a white metal coating. It measures 34.03mm long, 23.31mm wide across the wings and weighs 12.7g.

The brooch is probably a Polden Hill type, but it has unusual decoration for a Polden Hill type. Bayley and Butcher (Bayley and Butcher, 2004 Roman Brooches in Britain: A technological and Typological Study Based on the Richborough Collection Society of Antiquaries p. 160) comment that the distribution of Polden Hill brooches are concentrated in the West Midlands.