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BROOCH
Unique ID: CAM-69EB68
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A Scandinavian brooch, 9th century, of openwork lozenge form, in very good condition and with decoration moulded in relief. The perforations leave a simple cross motif with a globule in the centre. The arms of the cross terminate in stylised animal heads, the eyes small domes in sunk relief, inboard of which are pairs of larger oval elements at an angle to one another, which represent ears. The reverse has a hinge and hook plate where there is still the remains of the iron pin. These fittings appear to have been soldered to the rear, rather than being cast integrally.
This is a relatively common Scandinavian brooch type in England, there being over 30 examples recorded to date. There is a similar example in the Norwich Castle Museum (Acc : No 403.985). Being of Scandinavian make, these may well have been worn by the early Viking settlers in East Anglia.
Notes:
Dr Kevin Leahy writes: This is an unusual and interesting brooch. The use of convergent ribs on the four arms resembles paired ridges seen on lozenge brooches of Kershaw's Type II (2013, 47-8) but seem unlike anything seen on the brooches illustrated by her. The relatively high central boss and the four pellets between the paired ridges are also unusual. It appears that the catch plate is of Scandinavian type.
Find of note status
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Class: openwork lozenge
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: With finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 850
Date to: AD 920
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 27.97 mm
Thickness: 2.88 mm
Weight: 6.19 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 11th October 2003
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: St Neots & District Artefacts Club
Museum accession number: None
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Cambridgeshire (County)
District: Huntingdonshire (District)
To be known as: Southoe and Midloe Parish Area
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hattatt, R. | 2000 | A Visual Catalogue of Richard Hattatt's Ancient Brooches | Oxford | Oxbow Books | 223 - 375 | 1700 | |
| Kershaw, J. | 2013 | Viking Identities: Scandinavian Jewellery in England | Oxford | Oxford University Press | 47-48 |
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Timeline of associated dates
1 comment
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Jane Kershaw wrote @ 11:22:31 on the 9th June 2011.
Is there an image of this piece? Normally these brooches have fittings which are integrally cast, rather than soldered, so it would be interesting to see the reverse. Perhaps it has been repaired?
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