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Description: | A large, cast copper alloy Roman bow brooch, probably an Aucissa variant. The bow is flat and rectangular in section. At the head, the bow has a slot for the hinged pin, and bends back on itself to form a space to hold the axis bar. This is unusual as most Aucissa brooches have the bow bending forwards. The head and bow of the brooch are decorated with a pattern of incised small dots. Down each edge of the bow is a single line of punched dots; in the centre are two rows of alternating dots close together which have the effect of creating a wavy line in relief between them. This line continues on to the head of the brooch where it is crossed at right angles by a shorter row of matching decoration. It then divides into two separate diagonal rows of dots which extend to the outer edges of the brooch head; these separate rows appear to be rather cruder than the rest of the decoration. There are three larger dots on each edge of the head, equidistantly spaced. The head of the brooch is distinguished by being wider than the bow and having rounded knops in the corners where it joins the bow. The foot of the brooch first broadens out into a short rectangle of metal; the double row of dots in the centre of the bow extends into this rectangle and then becomes a single row. There is a single, shallow groove down each edge of this rectangle; each groove ends in a single large dot which may represent an eye. The shape of the bow in this area, and the grooves, could be seen as ears, making the foot zoomorphic. The foot then rapidly tapers to a long narrow and slightly rounded snout. The terminal is a rounded knop with a raised button at the apex. This lower section of the brooch appears to be zoomorphic, giving the impression of a long-snouted animal. The hinged copper alloy pin and the catch plate are complete. The whole brooch has a glossy, dark green patina. Sections of this brooch have parallels with first century Aucissa variant brooches (see Hattat, pp.318-20), and the back-rolled head can be paralleled by number 306 on page 318. The brooch dates from the Early Roman period, the first century AD.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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