File:A copper alloy gilt square headed brooch (FindID 86183).jpg

English: Two fragments of an elaborate early Anglo-Saxon great square-headed brooch made from gilded copper alloy and dating to the mid sixth century AD. One fragment comprises the majority of the headplate, of which the borders are corroded and missing. The headplate is highly decorated, with an outermost border of Style I relief zoomorphic decoration. The eyes and feet of two stylised animals facing each other are visible. Within this border is a broad raised strip running around three sides of a rectangle, decorated with a row of very small stamped ring-and-dot motifs; and within this is a row of moulded ribs, creating a pattern of rectangles running up, across and down the headplate. Breaking up this row of rectangles, in the centre of the headplate, is a raised triangular cell filled with a white substance, possibly enamel. Another broad raised strip occurs within the row of rectangles, and inside this is a narrow ridge surrounding the central motif at the top of the bow; a raised square with the central bow rib extending onto it, with lentoid grooves linking the end of the central bow rib to the corners of the square. On the reverse of the headplate, there are some traces of iron corrosion. Two worn fragmentary lugs used to secure the pin are visible.

The other fragment comprises the arched bow of the brooch. The bow has three longitudinal ribs, one to either side and one in the centre. In between are two broad grooves. In the centre of the central rib is a circular cell, filled with a white substance which may be enamel. Where the bow meets the foot, there is a curving groove and two arcs of stamped ring and dot.

These fragments are from a brooch of Hines's Group XXII and are almost identical to that from Sewerby grave 19 (Hines 1997, pl. 82b). Group XXII is northerly in distribution and, apart from one slightly earlier example, dates to Hines's Phase 3 (c. 530-c. 570).

Another very similar Group XXII brooch is recorded at YORYM-F0C9C7.