File:Early Medieval great square-headed brooch (FindID 278588).jpg

Only the headplate remains, and this in two pieces. The head is rectangular with a central panel and a chip-carved border and knobs. The central panel and border a flush rather than stepped, with the central panel defined by a simple incised line along the top and to either side, with a broader groove along its bottom, which would have separated the panel from the now missing bow. A quatrefoil has been punched into the centre of the panel, consisting of four pointed-oval petals arranged symmetrically. The border has a facemask centrally positioned and looking outward on three sides, with the corners occupied by bird-heads. The two sideknobs and topknob also depict outward looking facemasks.

Relative to the chip-carving decoration seen on some other brooches, this example is less well executed, though it represents a flourished example of the type. Similar examples (though lacking the knobs) were found in Darlington on the River Tees (MacGregor and Bolick 1993, 108-9, nos 12.34 and 12.35).

The sunken surfaces of the head retain gilding.

The reverse is undecorated and bears the broken lugs of the pin and hinge, centred and positioned just above the bow.