File:Early-medieval brooch, Cross brooch (FindID 477924).jpg

English: A cast copper alloy early-medieval (Anglo-Saxon) cross brooch in the Carolingian style and dating to the 8th century AD. The brooch is incomplete and in two pieces but it fits back together perfectly suggesting a relatively recent post-depositional break probably due to ploughing. The brooch consists of just over half of the original, retaining two of four equal arms, splayed at the termini and decorated with chip-carved floral and / or zoomorphic interlaced patterns. The centre of the cross has a diamond shaped design with rounded knops at each corner, within which are two squares; the inner one solid and the outer one open. The entirety of the object has been gilded and much of this survives. The reverse of the brooch, also gilded, retains the remains of what appears to be a pin hinge; two integrally cast 'loops' would have held a pin or other attachment in place through the hole in each loop, like simple hinged brooch pins of both earlier and contemporary date. It should be noted that similar styled examples are actually pendants, and it is possible that the fittings on the reverse were actually for a suspension attachment rather than a brooch pin. This is an unusual object and no direct comparison is recorded on the database, however a related example is recorded from Wyverstone in Suffolk (SF-BABE11).

This is a preliminary record and more information will be added in due course. Thanks are extended to Helen Geake & Kevin Leahy for their help with identification and interpretation. Their comments will make up the rest of the forthcoming record.