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BROOCH
Unique ID: ESS-2BB5FA
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
A Roman copper alloy flat, enamelled disc brooch with triskele motif, dating to the 2nd century AD. The object is circular in shape and on the reverse are traces of a hinge pin and catchplate, though only a small fragment of the pin remains in the hinge. The metal is a mid-dark green colour with patches of dark brown discolouration which is evidence of the pin being iron.
There is a recessed section on the front, forming a thin raised border around the edge. In the centre is a voided triskele motif, cast in the disc, with circles at the ends of each point and a small annulet in the centre. Within the recesses are traces of enamel. The enamel in the field is currently a green colour, though this is likely as a result of contamination from the copper alloy. The circular tips of the triskele appear to have had different colours, with evidence of red and blue and another green coloured cell caused by copper contamination. The voided section has traces of enamel though the colouration is no longer clear, whilst the central annulet appears to have been filled with blue enamel.
A parallel can be found in Mackreth (2011, pl. 105, no. 10688) with examples of that type dating broadly to the 2nd century AD.
Dimensions: diameter: 19.23 mm; thickness: 2.83 mm; weight: 3.52g.
Reference: Mackreth, D. F. Brooches in Late Iron Age and Roman Britain: Volume 2. Oxford: Oxbow.
Class: Flat, enamelled disc (triskele)
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: CIMS
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 100
Date to: Circa AD 200
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 2.83 mm
Weight: 3.52 g
Diameter: 19.23 mm
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: OEF 7937
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Enamel
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Geometric
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Essex (County)
District: Uttlesford (District)
Parish or ward: Littlebury (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TL4738
Four figure Latitude: 52.0209504
Four figure longitude: 0.14092577
1:25K map: TL4738
1:10K map: TL43NE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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