BROOCH

An incomplete copper alloy brooch of Colchester derivative, Polden Hill (Mackreth Group 4, flat wing ends type), Mackreth 2011, 4.h. Plate 47, no. 2000. Roman date (AD 75 to AD 150).

Approximately 70% of the brooch is present, consisting of the head, bow, wing and foot. The catchplate, spring and pin are missing, presumably lost in antiquity.

In plan, the brooch is almost T-shaped, and D-shaped in cross section. The bow head is hump-like, and angular (comma shaped) in profile, with one sub-cylindral wing projecting from the left side at the top, the right wing is missing.The wing has a sub circular pierced wing cap, which has an incised line on the edge of it and a ridge where it connects to the bow. The reverse of the wing has a semi circular shaped depression where the spring (now missing) would have been held. On the bow on the front of the brooch the decoration takesthe form of two adjacent central vertical ribs with a groove in between. Either side of these ribs, there are a series of raised pellets within shallow rings(13 on the left side of the brooch and 9 on the right side), getting slightly smaller as they progress down the bow of the brooch. The shallow rings appear to have been added afterwards, and appear to have been incised or punched into the metal. The bottom of the bow terminates in a knop, above which there is a triple collar, a groove and then a further collar. The catchplate emerges from above the upper collar on the reverse of the brooch, but is incomplete.The back of the brooch is undecorated.

The brooch measures 50.6 mm in length and is 16.3 mm wide. It has a thickess of 5.3 mm and weighs 10.5 g.

The brooch is a mid grey colour, with an uneven patina, traces of silvering or tinning is evident on the reverse of the brooch. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of some of the original surface detail.