File:Early Medieval brooch (FindID 237049).jpg

English: Early Saxon copper alloy equal-armed brooch, facetted D-sectioned bow with flattened median band decorated with double line of stamped annulets between three engraved lines, rectangular panels defined by double transverse lines and with deep notch at each outside edge, elaborate cruciform terminals with incised notches at angles and four drilled holes forming both crosses, perforations outlined with stamped annulets and stamp of twin semi-circles, bordered at outer edges by twin incised lines and outward- facing stamps of twin semi-circles, single pierced lug with corroded fragment of iron pin and catch-plate on reverse, 24 x 58mm. Very fresh and crisp condition.

This is clearly Early Anglo-Saxon in date, although it bears some resemblance to later ansate brooches such as the example from Little Barningham (Medieval Archaeology (2005) 338 and 341, fig. f). Its details are different to those that can be noted from late Merovingian/Carolingian brooches with cruciform terminals, and are closer to those common on early Anglo-Saxon types. The terminals appear to be copied from the head-plates of small-long brooches of Leeds's cross potent derivative type, which also have square cut-outs in the corners and four holes, e.g. examples from Rothwell, Northamptonshire, and Little Wilbraham, 79, Cambridgeshire (Leeds 1945, fig. 10e-f). The facets at the ends of the bow also occur on cruciform brooches. Another brooch, from Brunel Way, Thetford, uses the form of two trefoil-headed head-plates from small-longs in a similar way as matching terminals (Penn and Andrews 2000, 428, fig. 11A).

This type of brooch is very uncommon; it may be an experimental form of the 6th century, based on the more usual Anglian 'bow tie' form of equal-arm brooch, but copying their terminals from other types of jewellery. According to Bente Magnus (1999, 164-6), one of the two main forms of 6th-century Scandinavian equal-arm brooches was created by joining two foot-plates of small square-headed brooches together with a bow, and it is conceivable that the maker of this brooch did something similar.