BROOCH

An incomplete copper alloy Trumpet variation type brooch of the Roman period, circa AD 75 - AD 175.

Approximately 25% of the brooch remains, consisting of the spring, part of head and part of the bow. The pin, foot, catch plate and head loop are missing presumed lost in antiquity.

The top of the brooch consists of an angular bow descending from a plate below a head loop (now incomplete). The headloop is incomplete and consists of a flat triangular plate. A horizontal ridge is present just below the incomplete loop. The head of the brooch is complete, semi circular in plan, and tapers into the bow. The bow is D-shaped in cross section. At the shoulder (midway) point of the bow, there is decoration in the form of four raised vertical ridges and three deep grooves. A sub circular concavity is present in the back of the head. This concavity retains the spring. The attachment lugs for the axis bar are still present to either side of the concavity. The reverse of the brooch is flat and undecorated.

It measures 26.6 mm in length, 15.5 mm wide and 5.6 mm thick. It weighs 6.5 grams.

The brooch is a light green colour, with an uneven surface patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of some of the original surface detail.

Hattatt published a similar but more complete brooch, from Wall, Staffordshire (2000, p328, fig 187, #952) in his visual catalogue of Ancient Brooches, and dated that example to 1st to 2nd Centuries AD. A similar brooch has been recorded on the PAS database as WMID-895F69 and WMID-E16476.

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