File:Early Medieval brooch, Great Square Headed (FindID 716628).jpg

English: Early Medieval, Anglo-Saxon, Great Square Headed Brooch, gilt cast copper alloy with attached silver plates on its lobes. The head is rectangular with slightly incurved sides and projecting corners which once bore silver plates. Along the sides of the head are parallel bands containing rows of finely incised transverse lines and small annulet stamp impressions. Within these bands is a central area containing concentric rectangular fields defined raised strips again decorated with fine, transverse lines and annulet stamp impressions and larger, tear shaped, depressions. These bands surround a central panel containing two raised square motifs separated by a bar. The bow of the brooch bears three, well defined longitudinal ribs each bearing annulet stamp impressions. On the central rib is a low, rectangular projection which is likely to have been decorative. The foot of the brooch is, like the head, chip carved its decoration consisting of a central double rib either side of which are raised parallel bars forming a lozenge. These bars bear the same fine, transverse lines seen on the head along with the tear-shaped depressions but the annulet stamp impressions are much less in evidence. While some features of the foot bear incised lines that suggest eyes this decoration cannot be seen as zoomorphic. On the brooches foot are three, projecting, circular panels which bear silver plates. The back of the brooch bears two lugs for the attachment of the now missing iron pin. This was engaged by an integrally cast catch plate set on a longitudinal rib. The catch plate was decorated by a series of incised, transverse lines. While the brooch is in generally good condition some features are obscured by corrosion products.

Length 122.3mm, Width 50.6mm, Thickness 3.4mm, Mass 85.43g.

While no direct parallels have been found this brooch is best accommodated in Hines' (1997) Group XVI. The decoration on the head being typical of the Group. A date of AD 525-570 seem likely.