File:Roman aussica brooch (front, side and reverse view). (FindID 121660).jpg

English: The object is a Roman Aesica brooch, which dates to the first century AD or 40-60 AD (Hattatt, R 1987. Brooches of Antiquity. Oxbow: Oxford, p.54-55). The brooch is made from cast copper alloy and is incomplete.

The brooch has short semi-cylindrical wings with caps on each end. The wings have a single longitudinal, incised groove at each end. In profile, the caps are sub-oval in shape, with a single piercing in the centre. The wing caps support an axis bar and a spring which are both made from copper alloy. The spring, of which four complete turns remain, is made from a sub-rectangular strip of copper, which has been wound around the axis bar. The pin is missing. At the top of the brooch, at the junction of the wings is a single reward protrusion. Closer inspection reveals the protrusion to be an incomplete reward facing lug, which originally would have secured an external chord.

In plan, the upper brooch is trapezoid shaped, with a narrow upper edge, sides which flare outwards and a wider lower edge. The upper brooch projects forwards from the wings before curving back inwards to join the main body of the bow. In profile the upper bow forms a continuous curve. It is 18.9mm long and 25.0 mm at its widest point. The reward lug on the top of the bow extends forwards to form a longitudinal, median rib which is approximately 1.6mm wide. Either side of the rib is a single deep, longitudinal groove. The side edges are decorated by a single groove. The shoulders of the brooch are decorated by a single rounded knob, which are approximately 3mm in diameter. The shoulders are the widest point of the upper bow, the width of the bow then decreases considerably to form a semi-circular moulding. In cross-section the moulding is D-shaped, with a rounded outer edge and a flat reverse. The top of the moulding is decorated by a single traverse groove, with six radiating incised lines directly below it.

The bow leg is trapezoid shaped, with a narrow upper edge, sides which flare outwards, and a wider lower edge. The top of bow has a single knop on either side; one is complete while the other is not. The top of the leg is decorated by a traverse groove, which is slightly curved, to follow the rounded lower edge of the moulding above. The centre of the leg is decorated by six separate panels, which are laid out in a trapezoid design. Five of the panels are sub-triangular in shape and one is lozenge shaped. The triangular panels range in size from 3.3mm - 4.8mm high, and 4.8mm – 6.1mm wide. The lozenge shaped panel is 6.7mm long and 10.9mm wide. The upper central panel and the lozenge panel contain traces of blue enamel. The other panels appear to be filled with a dark brown copper alloy, although it is possible that the panels may also have held some type of enamel as well. The sides of the lower leg are decorated by a single incised groove. The base of the leg flares outwards slightly, to form a foot which is trapezoidal in shape. The reverse of the brooch is undecorated. The brooch has a small, sub-triangular pin rest which is 15.7mm long by 5.1mm wide.

The object is dark green in colour and is in a fair condition. The wings are slightly bent. It is not possible to say, however, if the strong curve in the upper bow is deliberate or represents damage of some kind. The brooch measures 38.2mm in length, 19.5mm wide (across the wings), 25.0mm wide (across the shoulder) and 21.7mm wide (across the base of the foot). The diameter of the central moulding is 11.2mm and the weight is 20.61g.