File:Early-medieval great square-headed brooch fragment (FindID 235009).jpg

English: A copper-alloy fragment of an early-medieval (Anglo-Saxon) great square-headed brooch. This piece represents an arm (probably one of three original) from the footplate. It probably originates from a Hines Group I or (less likely) Group II brooch (see Hines, 1997, p. 17-41). Parallels for Group I brooches have been found at Berinsfield, Oxon (see Hines, pl. 3a), Alfriston, E. Sussex (pl. 2b), and Guildown, Surrey (pl. 4b). A Group II brooch with similar ornamentation was found at Duston, Northants (pl. 11b). The brooch dates from Hines' Phase I or II, AD c.500-c.550 (H. Geake, pers. comm.).

From the broken attachment end, the sides taper into two parallel concave sides which then extend into a rounded terminal lobe. The upper surface of the brooch exhibits elaborate relief-moulded decoration. The drop-shaped terminal lobe bears an anthropomorphic head in high relief. This forward-facing head is heavily stylised, with two large sub-oval eyes (comprised of outer and inner drop-shaped grooves) set either side of a beak-like nose which has a horizontal bottom edge. The head tapers sharply into the thin neck and at the base is a second, smaller anthropomorphic head which tapers downwards into a thin neck and has two small circular eyes, defined by grooves. On either side of this second anthropomorphic element is a stylised beast, the legs and feet for which abut the human's neck. All decorative elements are contained within a ridge which extends around the perimeter of the piece; a second, parallel ridge lies inside the outer ridge - the two being separated from each other by a groove - and encloses the larger anthropomorphic head. At the base, the ends of this second border curve upwards, petering out at roughly the same level as the nose. The grooves within the brooch's pattern are picked out with gilding. A further feature of the piece is a pair of circular rivet holes, set one either side of the small human head and surrounded by iron corrosion, presumably from now-missing rivets. The function of these holes is unclear; they may be associated with the attachment of a catchplate, but a more likely explanation is that they indicate that the piece was re-used following the break. Situated on the reverse, between these two holes, is a low vertical ridge, perhaps indicating that this is a base lobe rather than a side one.

The artefact measures 41.9mm long, 23.7mm wide and 5.7mm thick. The weight is 12.76g.