EARLY MEDIEVAL BROOCH

500

Fragment of headplate and bow of a gilt silver long brooch, probably a miniature square-headed. One lower corner of the headplate is extant. One rather indistinct stamped impression near the edge lies next to a pair of vertical grooves flanked by a ladder of transverse ribs in counter relief. Part of a central panel contains Style I animal ornament consisting of an eye and a limb. The stub of the bow is undecorated at the top, but pairs of longitudinal grooves on both sides of a low central rib begin just befor the break. There is an incomplete single pin lug on the reverse of the headplate. All breaks are ancient. Brooches of this type are found in Kent, the Isle of Wight and parts of northern France, see B. Ager in Treasure Annual Report 2001 (2003), 26 - 7, no.33. 6th century. Width of bow 9mm, estimated width of headplate 20mm, weight 1.82g.