File:Anglo-Saxon Cruciform Brooch (FindID 262567).jpg

English: An incomplete cast copper-alloy cruciform brooch of Anglo-Saxon date. Parts of the headplate, side and top knobs, as well as the pin are missing due to old breaks. The headplate is flat, rectangular in form with a slightly raised central rectangular rib either side of which the headplate slopes downwards and outwards to give a faceted appearance. It is delineated by a border of incised double parallel grooves. Projecting from the sides are flat integrally cast side-knobs that are separated from the headplate by small semi-circular incisions and appear to be semi-circular in form, although this is uncertain due to the poor preservation of the edges that might indicate old breaks. The projecting knop at the top of the headplate is missing due to old breaks. On the back face of the headplate is an integrally cast copper-alloy pin lug that is semi-circular in form with a central circular perforation and has extensive iron corrosion probably resultant from the now missing spring.

The bow is curved with a faceted front face defined by a flattened central ridge and a concave back face. At the top and bottom it has flattened rectangular panels each with incised double transverse grooves. Beneath the bow the foot of the brooch has a zoomorphic terminal. This comprises a flattened panel with incised double transverse grooves and small semi-circular notches to each side, beneath which is a short faceted section with flattened central rib and D-shaped cross-section. The terminal itself is in the form of a horse head and begins with a raised, moulded collar with 5 transverse ridges, below which the tear-drop shaped head extends. This has rounded eyes to either side of the brow followed by an elongated snout that terminates with semi-circular projecting nostrils that have comma shaped incisions. The back face of the foot is slightly hollow in places, particularly at the terminal end, and has an integrally cast copper-alloy catchplate that is semi-circular in form and is perhaps incomplete due to old breaks.

The entire object has suffered some post-depositional damage, with areas of damage visible on the front face of the bow and corrosion apparent at the foot. Extensive tool marks are also visible on the front face of the headplate. It measures 61.68mm in length, 28.53mm in width, and weighs 10.43g.

This cruciform brooch is of Anglo-Saxon date. It is unusual in that its size, combined with a headplate that has integral and flat side-knobs, is more reminiscent of Anglo-Saxon Small-Long brooches such as examples from Eriswell, Lakenheath and Wattisfield in Suffolk (West, 1998: nos. 28.1, 108.3-5, 112.1, 133.5). The horse head terminal, however, is characteristic of cruciform brooches and suggests this is the more likely possibility. As such, it would date to the late-5th or 6th centuries AD.