File:Bow Brooch (FindID 49443).jpg

English: Upper fragment of a cast Roman bow brooch of unusual type. The brooch was hinged and the upper portion of the pin survives. The wings are wide with a flat upper surface and a rounded back. The wings carry low curved moulding near the terminals, which are now fairly eroded. The surviving area of the bow suggests a rounded cross design, with the apex of the bow running into the wings defining an arc across the wings and forming two curving triangular cells on the wings above the bow. Near the top of the bow is a slightly protruding copper alloy pin (c.1mm diameter), which can also be seen on the reverse. At the centre of the cross motif is a larger (c.2mm diameter) iron pin which also can be seen in the rear of the brooch. There is the suggestion of a border running around the bow. There is an ancient break at the base of the cross. It has proved difficult to find close parallels to this example, it is likely to be best paralleled in fantail (c. 1st to Early 2nd Century AD) variants. A winged brooch with a circular bow design and central iron rivet or pin was found at Nettleton, Wiltshire (Wedlake 197X, no 63(A), 128). This brooch was dated to the 1st century AD (ibid.).