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Description: | Cast copper alloy toggle of probable Roman date 150 ?? 250 AD. The toggle is broadly circular in plan (diameter 32.3, thickness 2.8mm) with a series of cast or pierced holes that form the central design of an irregular swastika symbol. In profile the toggle is broadly sub-rectangular (or D shaped) with a slight convex dome on the front face. One the reverse face of the toggle in the centre is an integral cast perforated bar which projects from the rear face at an angle of 90??. The bar is broken in two parts but both pieces have been recovered and fit together. The conjoined bar would measure approximately 30mm in length, is 12.5mm wide and 3.3mm thick. The bar is sub-rectangular in profile; it tapers from the joint with the disk and then flares into an angular shaped terminal. Therefore the bar has an irregular cross section. The terminal of the bar has a circular hole through it (diameter 5.3mm). The toggle weighs 17.03 grams.
The toggle is decorated with a series of cast and incised motifs. The largest design is that of the central swastika. This is formed from cast or pierced irregular L shaped holes which create the angular arms of the cross. These angled arms all vary slightly from one another. At the centre of the swastika and at where the arms join the outer ring are a series of irregular circular convex domes. These vary in size but the central one is significantly larger. The other area of decoration is on the outer circular band between the four bosses. Here, there is a series of angular and vertical incised scratches which are evenly spaced. They do not form a regular repeating pattern or a series of letters or numbers. However, it might be possible that they represent some form of inscription or personalized pattern. This area has been badly abraded and so very little of the original surface remains. The reverse face of the toggle is plain and undecorated.
The toggle is a mid green colour with an uneven and broken patina which covers all surfaces. The damage from abrasion and corrosion is most evident on the front face of the toggle; this has removed a large portion of the original decoration. The break in the rear bar is relatively recent and as both pieces were recovered it suggests that it occurred due to movement in the plough soil. No parallels for this toggle have been found; however, a similar swastika style brooch (fig 39 pp 295-297) has been published in Mackreth; 1985: 'Brooches from Roman Derby'. Derbyshire Archaeological Journal pp 281-314. This example has been dated to the late second and early third centuries (150 - 250AD) by comparison with continental examples from the Rhine - Danube frontier. The article states that this style of brooch is uncommon in Britain. | Subjects: | Swastika | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Reavill, Peter - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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