BROOCH

A a copper alloy Early Medieval small long brooch, dating to the period c.AD 500-600. The brooch is complete aside from the pin which is missing. The head is rectangular in plan, with a central rectangular area which has a rectangular wing to each side. The wings are delineated by open chanels, two from the upper edge and two from the lower edge, which terminate in open circles. Decoration in the form of ring and dot motifs is present at the upper edge of the head, while a pattern comprised of concentric chevrons runs along the outer edge of each wing. The bow extends downwards from the lower edge of the head. It arches steeply upwards and is decorated with a central longitudinal groove. The bow narrows slightly to the foot which is decorated with two sets of three transverse moulded bands. The catchplate is still intact at the foot on the reverse, as is an integrally cast loop set at 90 degrees to the head. This would have accommodated the pin. The reverse is undecorated. A green patina is on the surface.

The brooch measures 40.27mm in length, 22.93m in width at the head, 6.24mm in width at the foot, 1.58mm in thickness at the head, 7.46mm in thickness at the catchplate and weighs 10.34g.

Cf. West (1998) p. 147, no. 2, which bears similarities to the form of the head.