BROOCH

An incomplete copper alloy Headstud style brooch, of Roman dating (AD 75 - AD 200).

Approximately 25% of the brooch is present consisting of the lower part of the bow, the foot knop and partial catch plate. The head, wings, spring and pin are missing, presumed lost in antiquity.

The remnants of the bow have been decorated by a column of square voids running vertically down the bow. Enamel may have originally been present in the voids. A small amount of blue enamel is still present. The back of the brooch is plain and undecorated. The catch plate is incomplete, consisting of a vertical ridge. The foot is incomplete, with a circular recess which may have originally held enamel.

The brooch fragment measures 39.8 mm in length, 4.4 mm wide and 11.0 mm thick. It weighs 4.1 grams.

The brooch is a mid to dark green colour, and has an even surface patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of some of the original surface detail.

Headstud brooches are a relatively common type of Roman brooch, with examples being recorded from the majority of England and Wales. Hattatt (2000) illustrated several examples of this style of brooch on page 332, figure 191. All Headstud style brooches are considered to date from c. AD 75 to c. AD 200. A similar Headstud brooch has been recorded on the PAS database as WMID-B96943.

Reference:
Hattatt, R. (2000) A Visual Catalogue of Richard Hattatt's Ancient Brooches. Oxbow Books, Oxford.