A early one but what era

[Dale]

Hi All,

I found this one the other day but never really paid it much attention, silly me it could of been missed all together, Ahead start its made of iron so I think, and its a penannular brooch. Saxon/Viking?? iv even seen a Celtic iron example, but im just mot sure.
Any help would be appreciated........ Thanks in advance

[Chef Geoff]

I'm certainly out of my depth with penannular brooches so not even going to hazard a guess but will say being iron it's as rare as hens teeth.
I have my doubts whether even an FLO would be confident it dating it exactly as they were around for so long. Anna Booth is the person to ask as she's doing a research project on them, I'll see if I can dig out some contact details for you

[herbie]

I've no clue either but i like it alot nice find well done mate!

[Meatslicer]

"Small and simple penannular brooches in bronze, iron, and, rarely, silver were common in the Roman period as a practical fastener, but were not used for high-status objects, and any decoration was normally limited to bands around the ring or other simple patterns.[19] Often the extra thickness at the terminal, necessary to prevent the pin just falling off, is achieved simply by turning back the ends of the ring.[20] In the late Roman period in Britain in the 3rd and 4th centuries, a type of penannular brooch with zoomorphic decoration to the terminals appeared, with human or animal heads, still not much wider than the rest of the ring. Some examples had enamel decoration, and the pin did not extend much beyond the ring.[21] These are found especially in southwestern Britain and Wales, and seem to have developed in these areas. This type fell from favour in southern Britain by the 5th century,[22] but was developed in Ireland by the 6–7th centuries. "

Eric

[Dale]

Thanks for your reply's
just went to my uncles as he's got a library of artefact/coin books, throw all ages, including 5 Hattatts all about brooches..... we started looking at the very early ones BC, 1st, century, and there they were, one stood out what was very similar, well the same Hattatt 1289, then we had to flip a few pages to find the right up and believe it or not the brooch was found at Lachlade Gloucester local to me, what a result as I live at Bristol.

Also Type D4 was very similar:  The bent ends are depressed in the centre, sometimes the end is tilted up words to give the impression of a birds beak.

Geoff as you said rare being iron Hattatt said all about that and in some cases 1 or 2 found and in a very poor state....... im pleased with the result, and being local    
 

[Dale]

As Eric & Geoff said they was used for centuries, so the dating is give or take I think.

[congerman]

very nice find well searched 

[cardiffian]

A very nice find Dale and in good condition as well. Well done.

[Dale]

Cheers Alan

[probono]

nice.

I was just thinking that maybe they were rare because people tend to discrim iron out?

[Dale]

Yes maybe probono, I think one of the reasons I found it was that its circular in shape, also I think its a iron mix, its in good condition as its been brought up by the plough from god knows what depth, as I had to sit on my bum to get over the furrow........a little exaggeration there    

[probono]

I got to a particular field where I used to find quite a lot of stuff, but it's been very quiet recently - and started using All Metal mode on my detector.

It's amazing just how much iron is still left in the field (although I haven't found anything non-ferrous in it for a while now).