BROOCH

An incomplete cast copper alloy developed T-shaped brooch of early Roman date. Present is the head, with broken pin, and upper bow; the lower bow, including foot and catch-plate, are missing. The head is formed of flattened cylindrical wings with a central slot between them on the back of the head. The wings are 27.9mm wide, taper slightly towards the outer ends and are oval in section with flattened upper and lower faces. One wing is damaged at the end exposing the end of the iron axis bar for the hinged pin. The axis bar is held in place by a white cement at the ends of both wings. The triangular head of the copper-alloy pin is still in the slot, swinging on the axis bar; only the beginnings of the rest of the circular sectioned pin survives. At the top of the head is the worn remains of a tab or loop.

The bow rises from the head at 90 degrees before bendig down 90 degrees and continues ina very shallow curve. The upper part is flat with a rectangular recessed panel covering the front leaving only a raised border. Within the panel are raised lines marking out a half- lozenge at the top with three abutting lozenge shaped cells beneath. It is likely all held enamel although only a small amount remains in the upper and lower cells and the colour is unclear as the enamel has a pale green patinated surface.

At the base of the upper part of the bow, below the panel, are a pair of transverse ridges running across the front with a thicker ridge below. This thicker ridge is D-shaped in cross section. There is a hollow of the back of the bow behind it, probably a casting flaw, and the patinated break suggests the rest of the bow was again flatter.

The entire piece is 29.2mm long, 10.6mm thick excluding the pin and weighs 7.39 grams

Bayley and Butcher (2004, 167) suggest this type (T105/6) is mainly South Western in distribution and dates to the later first - early 2nd century AD (c. AD 75-150). Very similar examples are recorded on this database from Somerset including SOM-49B944 and SOM-EFB175 which even has very similar ridges across the bow.