BROOCH

Roman brooch: An incomplete cast copper alloy Polden Hill type (Mackreth 2011, 4.i. Plate 48, dating from AD 80 - 120). The spring, axis bar, pin and lower portion of the bow are missing. The wings are undecorated, with perforated wing caps, which are incomplete. There is a hook at the centre of the upper edge of the wings.

The bow head is slightly angular, with a moulding either side and the bow is vertical. The bow head is decorated with a central ridge which leads down to the mid point of the bow. On the bow, either side of the ridge there are high-relief lentoids on the upper portion. There is also a small trace of blue enamel just below the bow head. The bow tapers to a broken point, but the break is not recent.

The brooch has an abraded patina which is a mid-green colour.

The brooch measures 27.15mm in length, 19.8mm width (across the wings), and weighs 7.74g.

A number of similar brooches of this type can be seen in Richard Hattatt's (2000) Visual Catalogue of Ancient Brooches; page 300. All the brooches in this section are dated to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Parallels can also be found on the database discovered in the Malvern Hills, Worcestershire (WAW-9C28B5) and Wychavon, Worcestershire (WAW-6AA3CC) Bayley and Butcher (2004:160) comment that the distribution of Polden Hill brooches are concentrated in the West Midlands and suggest they date to AD 80 to 120. Mackreth classifies it as a Mackreth Group 4, flat wing ends), Mackreth 2011, 4.i. Plate 48, dating from AD 80 - 120.

Bayley and Butcher, 2004 Roman Brooches in Britain: A technological and Typological Study Based on the Richborough Collection 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 Volume 1 Oxford: Oxbow Books