BROOCH

A fragmentary cast copper alloy developed T-shaped brooch of early Roman date. Present is the most of the head and upper bow; the pin, lower bow, including leg and catch-plate, are missing. The head is formed of cylindrical wings with a central slot. One of the wings is broken with only about half of the original wing surviving. Orange/brown corrosion product in the slot and on the lower surface of the bow below suggests that the axis bar for the hinged pin was made of iron. Both wings are decorated with a trio of grooves, thus creating a pair of ridges, at the end largely on the lower surface. There is no evidence for a tab or loop at the head.

The bow has a flat rectangular cross-section. It projects at c. 30 degrees from the head, with the main part flat and in the same plane as the wings. The bow would have been decorated with three abutting raised lozenge shaped cells with central lozenge shaped recesses to take enamel; only one-and-a-half cells are visible at the point of break. The outlines of the moulded cells are emphasised by incised lines. A fragment of light-blue enamel is retained in the broken cell. There is a possible longitudinal ridge between the pin slot and upper cell. The sides of the upper bow are rebated.

The breaks are old. The fragment has an even dark-brown patina.

Bayley and Butcher (2004, 167) suggest this type is mainly South Western in distribution and dates to the later first - early 2nd century AD (c. AD 75-150). For a local parallel see Leech (1980, 108; no. 17).