File:Roman Zoomorphic Cockerel Brooch (FindID 256130).jpg

English: A copper alloy Roman zoomorphic brooch in the form of a cockerel. Complete apart from missing pin, however there is evidence of an iron residue where the pin should be, therefore suggesting that the pin may have been iron. There is evidence of enamelling in blue and red on the upper body of the cockerel, especially prevalent on the wings. The wattles beak and tail are undecorated but the plain comb has roughly cut notches along the edge. The eyes are indicated by a deep hollow that must have held enamel. A small hole perforates just below the tail. A well preserved example of a similar brooch was excavated from a well in Ware, Herts [ACS Ltd forthcoming] in 2011 has a length of fine 'knitted' copper alloy chain but this comes from the front of the bird not the perforation under the tail!. Beneath, the cockerel is hollow and has a pair of lugs, to hold the now missing pin under the tail and traces of the catchplate.

The cockerel was an attribute to the Roman god Mercury, symbolising the 'new day' (Williams & Zeepvat, 1994, 321) though it may just be a decorative subject.

Brooches of this type from Richborough have been dated by Bayley & Butcher [2004, p174-5 & Fig 150, T214] to the 2nd century AD