PIN

An incomplete copper alloy Cruciform headed pin of Middle Iron Age dating (350 BC to 150 BC).

The pin head is comprised of four ovate mouldings positioned at the cardinal points round a fifth similar central lobe. The five knops are all taller than they are wide. The knops may have originally held a coral inlay. A waisted shaft descends from the underside of the lobed head. At its base is a bead moulding flanked by a collar above and below. The shaft continues below the moulding and bends sharply twice at right angles. A strut joins the lower shaft to the side of the bead moulding forming a loop. The shaft continues in a curve but then is broken. The break is well patinated. It is sub-circular in section. In use, the head of the pin would probably have pointed forwards at a right angle to the majority of the shaft.

The pin head is 30.2mm long, 26.6 mm wide and 12.6 mm thick. The bead is 11.1 mm diameter. The shaft is 4.1 mm diameter at the break. It weighs 10.2 g.

The metal has a patchy light green and grey patina.

A similar pin head has been recorded on the PAS database as SWYOR-37CFEA and has been dated from the Middle to Late Iron Age, 800 BC to 100 AD. The pin head is also similar in style to Middle Iron Age brooches such as WILT-D73D25. Dr Sophia Adams has confirmed that this is a Cruciform headed pin and is almost identical to an example from Ludford, Lincolnshire, currently part of the British Museum collection, accession number BM1998,0602.1.