BROOCH

An incomplete cast copper alloy trumpet brooch, of Roman date (c.AD 75 to 175).

The brooch consists of the head and the upper bow. The projection lug, pin and lower half of the bow and catchplate are missing. The brooch is an inverted 'L' shape in profile and the bow tapers from a bifurcated head to a broken terminal below the moulded decoration on the bow.

At the reverse of the head are the small remains of an attachment fitting, possibly this formed a perforated lug. The reverse of the head is slightly concave. Located below the head at the upper part of the bow is a triple moulded rib which is moulded in light relief and extends to the reverse of the brooch. The middle rib is more pronounced than the upper and lower rib. The reverse of the brooch is undecorated. The brooch has a brown coloured patina, with an abraded surface.

Trumpet style brooches typically date from 75 to 175AD. There are many similar examples on the databaseWMID-AB882A, discovered in Worcestershireand another example decorated with enamel (LVPL-B61ABB)was discovered in Cheshire West.

The brooch measures 27.61mm in length, 14.07mm wide across the head and 18.43mm thick across the head. It weighs 7.7 grams.

Bayley, J. and Butcher, S., (2004) Roman Brooches in Britain: A Technological and Typological Study Based on the Richborough Collection.London, The Society of Antiquaries.