BROOCH

An incomplete copper alloy brooch of Colchester derivative Polden Hill (Mackreth 2011, Group 4, lanceolate motifs, flat wing ends type, West Midlands), cf. Mackreth 2011, 4.i1. Plate 47 of Roman date (80-240 AD).

The axis bar, spring, rearward facing hook, pin and catchplate are missing. The wings are semi-cylindrical in plan with incomplete perforated wing / end caps. The bow head is hump-like, and slightly angular (comma shaped) in profile. At the upper edge of the head are the partial remains of the rearward facing hook. At the reverse of the head is a rectangular shaped recess that would have housed the axis bar and spring. The bow is broadly D shaped in cross section. It extends to a turned cylindrical bulbous knop / foot with a collar. At the reverse of the brooch is the catchplate. It is formed from a rectangular central rib that begins below the head of the brooch on the reverse side. This rib expands and is triangular in profile, with the edge being slightly folded over to form a pin rest.

The decoration of the brooch is well preserved at the lower section of the bow. At the top some of the original surface detail has been damaged. A central rib starts from the remains of the rearward facing hook and descends along the spine of the brooch to the foot. The rib is decorated with horizontal notches which are evenly spaced. Positioned evenly to either side of the central rib / spine are evenly spaced cast roundels / pellets which decrease evenly in size from the head of the brooch to the foot. The foot is also decorated with a cast - turned design with a single rounded pellet at the base. The wings are also decorated with a double recessed circumferential groove located near the wing cap.

The brooch measures 39.32 mmin length, 18.81 mm in width across the wings, 6.73mm thick at the head of the bow and weighs 10.2 grams.

Similar brooches can be seen in Richard Hattatt's Visual Guide to Ancient brooches pp 300 fig; 159 and Bayley and Butcher: Roman Brooches in Britain pp 89-92.

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.

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

Mackreth, D.F., (2011) Brooches in Late Iron Age and Roman Britain. Oxford, Oxbow Books.