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BROOCH
Unique ID: BH-2A66E3
Object type certainty: Possibly
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An iron and copper-alloy artefact, possibly representing part of a Late Iron Age to Early Roman 'Birdlip' type brooch.
The main portion of the artefact is of iron, with a bow-shaped copper-alloy moulding having been sleeved on to this and located one third of the way along its length. The lower two thirds of the iron portion has a flat upper surface and straight sides which converge to point. An incised pattern of herringbone decoration extends the length of this upper surface, surviving most clearly at the top. A right-angled projection is located on the underside of this portion. This feature, which is aligned longitudinally and is centrally located, resembles the remains of a catchplate. The two halves of the copper-alloy 'bow-shaped' moulding are of equal form and are separated from each other by a transverse groove. A lighter transverse groove extends across the surface of each side of the moulding. The area of iron protruding above the copper-alloy moulding is scallop-shaped, tapers to a wedge-shaped top and has a series of longitudinal grooves on its upper surface.
Length: 39.6mm; width: 6.8mm; thickness: 6.8mm. Weight: 3.11g.
The general appearance and condition of this piece point towards a Late Iron Age or Early Roman date. Although some elements resemble those of a Birdlip brooch, the scallop-shaped upper end does appear to be an original feature, a fact which may preclude this possibility.
Class: Birdlip
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: IRON AGE
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: IRON AGE
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa 30 BC
Date to: Circa AD 60
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 39.6 mm
Width: 6.8 mm
Thickness: 6.8 mm
Weight: 3.11 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 25th May 2014
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: Ver 14/85 - 14
Materials and construction
Primary material: Iron
Secondary material: Copper alloy
Completeness: Uncertain
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Oxfordshire (County)
District: South Oxfordshire (District)
To be known as: Watlington
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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