BROOCH

An incomplete copper-alloy Roman horse and rider plate brooch. The plate is flat and in the form of a horse and rider. The horse has a flattened nose/snout with a prominent curved mane that has notched decoration. It has an elongated body that is sub-triangular in form and at the front quarters and has a narrow projecting leg. At the rear it has a small projecting hind leg with hoof, and sub-rectangular tail. On the horse's back is a seated rider with triangular body and undecorated circular head. The front face of the brooch has the remains of four recessed fields for enamel, one positioned on the forepart of the horse, one covering the body and hind quarters of the horse, and the remaining two on the body of the rider. These all contain the remains of white enamel. On the back face of the plate is an integrally cast single pin lug at the hind end of the horse that is semi-circular in form with single circular aperture. At the opposite end of the back face is an integral catchplate, which is flat and rectangular in form with a folded outer edge. The entire brooch measures 24.23mm in surviving length, 19.24mm in height, 5.87mm in thickness (1.86mm at plate), and weighs 2.65g.

This is a Roman zoomorphic/anthropomorphic horse and rider plate brooch similar to examples from the Hockwold group (Gurney, 1986: pp. 65, Fig. 41) and from elsewhere in Suffolk (e.g. SF-A332A2, SF-25CEA4 or SF-429484). The horse and rider types are often found in groups on religious sites and are commonest in north Suffolk / Norfolk / Cambs and ?Lincs, ie in and around Icenian territory, but also in Hampshire (Hayling Island) and Somerset (Lamyatt Beacon). Dated contexts indicate 3rd and 4th century AD use.