File:41 Roman brooch, face (FindID 64265).jpg

English: Brooch 1st century AD

Rectangular section wings (25mm long, 16mm wide, 2.5mm thick) with a slight concave impression running along the rear as a recess for the spring.  Two sets of vertical groves on either wings that continue around the top and bottom.  Rectangular side lugs with rounded corners protrude form the end of either wing pointing backwards, with a pierced hole towards the end supporting the spring bar (spring bar lug).  The spring is complete and is coiled around the axes bar.  Loop on the top of the wings with the hole facing along the length of the wings, the left side of the spring passes through this loop and then coils around the right side of the spring bar.



There is a second looped stud at the top of the head in front of the first flanked by two grooved lines that run down the length (the head is 16mm long, 5mm wide).  There is a recessed circular inset for enamel at the base of the head, the (4mm diameter, 3mm deep).  The end of the head narrows slightly towards a circular section (8mm external diameter) with a deep circular recess for enamel (6mm diameter, 4mm deep) with has a circular mount for enamel on either side (3mm diameter, 2.5mm deep). 



At the top of the leg is a fifth circular recess for enamel (4mm diameter, 3mm deep), (resulting in a cross shape made up of five circular bits of enamel, the enamel from each is missing).  The leg tapes down towards a rounded point (the leg is 23mm long 6-4mm wide  with a grooved line running down either side.  Three rectangular recess for enamel running down the length of the leg, greenish corroded enamel in the top and bottom recess, blue enamel with white swirls in the middle.  There are four circular section lugs on either side of the leg.  



The foot has a raised circular forward facing stud with a recess for enamel (which is missing).



The catch plate is complete and has a groove a groove running down the length. 



The bow has a dark green patina, the spring has a light green patina.  Both are in excellent condition. 

The brooch is made up of a number of different types. The spring mechanism is the sort used by the Polden Hill type brooches. Whilst the loop on the top of the head is typical of the Head Stud style. The leg with its four lugs on either side is that of the Sawfish type, but the foot with its forward facing stud is used by the T-shaped types and the centre circular moulding is arguably more reminiscent of the Trumpet tradition. On the whole, this brooch is a mix of traditions and probably belong to a period of extermination of brooch types that belong to the early years of the roman occupation.