SOM-6ACEE1: Roman T-shaped brooch (probably)

Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
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BROOCH

Unique ID: SOM-6ACEE1

Object type certainty: Possibly
Workflow status: Published Find published

The leg and foot from a Roman copper-alloy bow brooch, possibly of the local devolved T-shaped type and dating to the 2nd century AD. The bow and leg are formed of a wide, flat and thin strip which narrows gradually towards the end. It is 11.7mm wide at the break and 6.6mm wide above the footknob. The knob is formed of a thick semicircle set at 90 degrees to the foot and slightly wider at 8.9mm.

The bow is decorated on the front with three longitudinal grooves just below the old break, below which seven transverse ridges and concomitant grooves. On the back is a large catch-plate, sub-triangular in shape, curved at the bow end, straight at the foot end, with an abraded fold along this latter. It has a web of c. 37.5mm. The bow curves gradually into the leg and down to the foot.

Bayley and Butcher (2004, 167-168) suggest this type to which this object is perhaps similar (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 dark-brown patina.

Class: T-shaped type

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

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

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 43.4 mm
Height: 17.1 mm
Width: 11.5 mm
Thickness: 2.2 mm
Weight: 7.11 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Monday 1st April 2013 - Thursday 12th September 2013

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Other reference: SCC receipt 22389

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Completeness: Fragment

Spatial metadata

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

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 T139

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Timeline of associated dates

Audit data

Recording Institution: SOM
Created: 10 years ago
Updated: 8 years ago

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