SOM-B764A1: Roman T-shaped brooch (Dorset type)

Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
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BROOCH

Unique ID: SOM-B764A1

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

An incomplete cast copper-alloy Dorset-type T-shaped brooch of early Roman date. The head, pin and upper part of the bow are missing to old breaks; the rest of the bow, the leg and catch-plate survive. The head is lost to a horizontal break, at which point the bow has also been twisted. The bow is sub-rectangular in cross-section. The front is moulded with two ridges at the sides and a central bevelled ridge with deep longituidinal groove. Compared to the bow the plain leg is thinned. It tapers gradually, terminating in a ridged foot knob. On its lower surface the catch-plate survives well. Its web extend the full length of the leg and into the bow slightly, 22.8mm overall. It is of triangular form with slight abrasions and folding at the fold.

There are several similar brooches illustrated in Hattatt (2000, 304; fig. 163, lower row). Bayley and Butcher (2004, 167-168) suggest this type (T139) is an unusual variant of the T-shaped brooches with a mostly south western distribution; they suggest a second to possibly third century date. This object has an even mid-green patina.

Class: T-shaped
Sub class: Dorset type

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 100
Date to: Circa AD 250

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 35.7 mm
Height: 13 mm
Width: 9.1 mm
Thickness: 1.8 mm
Weight: 3.77 g

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Other reference: SCC receipt 22380

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Completeness: Incomplete

Spatial metadata

Region: South West (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Somerset (County)
District: South Somerset (District)
To be known as: Wincanton

Spatial coordinates


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

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Cultivated land

References cited

Author Publication Year Title Publication Place Publisher Pages Reference
Bayley, J. and Butcher, S. 2004 Roman Brooches in Britain: A Technological and Typological Study Based on the Richborough Collection London The Society of Antiquaries 167-168
Hattatt, R. 2000 A Visual Catalogue of Richard Hattatt's Ancient Brooches Oxford Oxbow Books 304 163

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Timeline of associated dates

Audit data

Recording Institution: SOM
Created: 10 years ago
Updated: 10 years ago

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