BROOCH

An incomplete copper alloy brooch of Colchester derivative Polden Hill of the Roman period, dating from c. AD 80 - c. AD 120.

Approximately 20% of the brooch is present, consisting of the head and incomplete wings. Much of the spring, pin, bow, foot and catchplate are missing, presumably lost in antiquity.

In plan, the brooch is almost T-shaped, and D-shaped in cross section. The bow head is hump-like, and angular (comma shaped) in profile, with sub-cylindral wings projecting from either side. The remains of a rear ward facing hook is present at the head of the bow, which would have held the suspension loop.The wing has a sub circular pierced wing cap, which has a ridge on the edge of it. The reverse of the brooch has a semi circular shaped depression where the remains of the spring sit. On the bow at the front of the brooch the decoration takes the form of two adjacent central vertical ridges with a semi circular ridge between, there are vertical grooves flanking each ridge. The two wider ridges are decorated with moulding in relief consisting of a raised rectangular shape and horizontal grooves, due to wear it is difficult to see the decoration clearly. The bottom of the bow terminates in an ancient break. There is a trace of a raised ridge running down the centre of the reverse.

The brooch measures 17.1 mm in length, and is 16.6 mm wide. It has a thickness of 10.0 mm and weighs 3.6 g.

The brooch is a dark green colour, with an uneven patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of some of the original surface detail. Similar objects have been recorded on the database including WMID-4AB6AF, NMGW-D9ECCE, WREX-F1478D and WAW-B9B7CE.