File:Early-Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) Miniature Square Headed Brooch (FindID 419634).jpg

English: An incomplete cast copper-alloy small square-headed brooch of Early Early-Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) date (475-575 AD).

Viewing the brooch in plan, the head-plate is sub-rectangular, 15.5mm in width and 8.9mm in depth (the longer side is horizontal). The head-plate has a ragged edge and it is unclear whether it had an outer frame. The head-plate inner panel, enclosed by a narrow raised border along the top and at each side, is decorated with raised horizontal rectangular mouldings. The slightly arched bow is about 7.0mm in length and has a minimum width of 6.9mm. It is grooved horizontally. However, some of the grooving is absent due to wear or corrosion. The sides of the foot-plate flare outwards to a maximum width of 15.4mm and then taper inwards to form a terminal point. The front of the foot-plate is decorated with a raised plain cross with 'chip-carved' motifs in each angle. The rear of the head-plate and foot-plate are flat and the rear surface of the bow is flat but slightly arched in side profile. On the lower part of the rear of the head-plate is a single perforated lug, 'D'-shaped in side view (4.4 x 3.9 x 1.3mm), to take a pin which is missing. On the upper part of the reverse of the foot-plate is the remains of a catch-plate which is 6.8mm in length, 4.8mm in width and about 1.3mm thick. The brooch is generally corroded and in poor condition and has traces of a mid-green patina on the front and rear. The front face has traces of gilding within the crevices. There is no evidence for burning or melting. 30.9 x 15.4 x 8.0mm.Weight: 4.62g. Similar style brooches are published in MacGregor, A and Bolick, E. 1993."Ashmolean Museum, Oxford: A Summary Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Collections". 123-124. British Archaeological Reports, British Series 230. Oxford: Tempvs Repartvm. A similar brooch has been recorded from Freshwater Parish, Isle of Wight. See, Portable Antiquities Scheme find: IOW-0406B1.