BROOCH

An incomplete Roman copper-alloy Hod Hill brooch (AD43-75). Hattatt Class B (with side lugs). The top edge is stepped and is perforated with a copper pin that passes through the perforation rather than the pin being rolled in situ. The pin has been flattened at the top end and tapers to a point which has been bent and distorted so it no longer extends to the catch plate. The bow of the brooch is sub-triangular in plan with the side lugs extending either side which are rounded in form. The left hand side lug is partially missing. The bow has a horizontal rib traversing the point where the bow begins to taper to a bulbous out turned foot; the foot has been distorted in the plough soil. The catch plate is rectangular in plan and located at the centre of the foot. The catch plate is missing the fold that would have held the pin in place. The front of the bow is decorated with four vertical ridges across it. The other surfaces of the brooch are undecorated. It is probable that the brooch was tinned, there are small traces of this surface on the back of the brooch. There is also a small trace of active corrosion on the bow. The brooch has a light-dark green patina across all surfaces. The brooch finds similar parallels in examples published by Hattat (2000 p.322 fig.181). Similar examples can be found on the database and were discovered in West Oxfordshire (BH-ECFDC4) and North Rauceby,Lincolnshire (WMID-F3F324).

The brooch has a length of 41.2 mm, a width of 20.7mm; the thickness of the bow is 2.6mm and the object weighs 6.7 grams.

Bayley & Butcher (2004, p.153) suggest Hod Hill brooches went out of use c.AD70 and that most were tinned in part and few were decorated with niello and enamel. They also suggest that Hod Hill brooches are better known on the continent, although the type had certainly reached Britain in the conquest period.

Bayley, J. and Butcher, S (2004) Roman Brooches in Britain: A Technological and Typological Study based on the Richborough Collection. Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London 68, Society of Antiquaries of London.

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