File:BROOCH (FindID 875664).jpg

An incomplete Roman copper alloy hinged developed T-shaped brooch, probably dating to c. AD 75-150. The brooch is missing its pin and right wing but is otherwise complete. The foot has been bent forward.

At the head of the brooch the wings survive to a width of 20.9mm, these are cylindrical, c. 4.5mm in diameter, with a rectangular slot to accomodate a hinged pin. Two parallel grooves, incised into the front only, deliniate the surviving wing tip. The wings hold a copper alloy axis bar in situ, along a small fragment of the pin within the slot.

The bow projects out of the head of the brooch with a width of 11.6mm, and 3.9mm in thickness; it is sub-rectangular in cross section, with a slight central pointed ridge on the front face, flanked by a pair of parallel raised ridges. These are positioned just inside from and following the line of the edge of the bow, and deliniate a stepped narrowing on either edge. These terminate at a transverse incised groove, delinitiating a field below. This is decorated with three of lozenge-shaped, enamel inlaid cells, with borders cast in relief. Only the central cell retains its enamel, now discoloured pale green. The bow tapers into the foot where it terminates in an integral footknop. The footknop is 4.0mm wide and 4.8mm thick. From the reverse projects an integral, unperforated catchplate, with an obliquely angled fold to the left. At its back edge this is 8.8mm high and projects back 7.2mm.

Overall dimensions: length 44.6mm; width 20.9mm; maximum thickness 7.2mm; weight 7.67g.

This brooch is extremely similar in its form to Mackreth's (2011: plate 63) no. 2759, which he identifies as his type 12.a. Another example of a developed T-shaped brooch can be seen illustrated by Bayley and Butcher (2004: 166, Hull's type 105/6), a development of the Flavian "initial" T-shaped brooch, they are dated to the late first and second centuries (ibid: 167).