Context (References)
cf: Kiernan, P. (2009). Miniature Votive Offerings in the North-west Provinces of the Roman Empire. Mentor Bd. 4. Mainz/Ruhpolding: Verlag Franz Philipp Rutzen
Event Date 2009
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Context (References)
cf: Mackreth, D. (2011). Brooches in Late Iron Age and Roman Britain. Vols 1 and 2. Oxford: Oxbow
Event Date 2011
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Context (Field collection)
This brooch was found on 29 September 2015 by a metal detector on cultivated land in Pampisford, Cambridgeshire. It was registered with the Portable Antiquities Scheme CAM-C5B072), declared Treasure Trove (2016 T540) and purchased by MAA following an inquest. The PAS record and Treasure Report have been used as the basis for this record.
Event Date 29/9/2015
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Description (Physical description)
Julia Fairley: 'This is a miniature one-piece bow brooch. The outwardly curving front or ‘bow’ of the brooch is formed from a thick strip of silver, rectangular in cross-section, bent back over on itself at the top. The strip narrows at the top where it bends back, gradually becoming circular in cross-section, forming a pseudo-‘pin’ which extends down the back of the bow, tapering to a point. About one third of the way down the pin as it tapers from the top, there is a flat ring added around the circumference of the pin. The pin is clipped closed at the bottom of the bow by a rectangular catch-plate which extends back from the centre bottom of the bow, in a perpendicular plane to the flat strip of the bow itself. The return of the catch-plate which clips the pin appears triangular, but is broken along one edge, so may originally have been rectangular.;
Event Date 2016
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Context (Analysis)
The Treasure Report, written by Julia Farley, Curator of Iron Age Collections at the British Museum, includes the following analysis: 'This object resembles a miniature version of a simple one-piece Late Iron Age or Roman brooch. The closest parallels are types from the first century BC and AD, such as the Nauheim derivative and Drahtfibel and its derivatives (Mackreth 2011, plates 7-12). Whilst very small examples of these brooches are known from other sites (e.g. Canterbury: Mackreth no. 4893) the small scale and simple construction of this example (without a coiled spring) suggest that it was unlikely to have been designed or used as a functional dress accessory. It is possible that it is a votive model representing a brooch; although unusual, miniature brooches were sometimes made for deposition on Late Iron Age and Roman religious sites (Kiernan 2009, 180-181).'
Event Date 2016
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Context (Analysis)
As part of the Treasure process, non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis was undertaken of the surface of the brooch. The results indicated a silver content of apporxiately 88-89% and 4-5% copper, the rest being iron, gold, tin and lead. See report in Object File.
Event Date 2016
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Description (Physical description)
Portable Antiquities Scheme: 'A small silver bow brooch of Roman style. This brooch seems to have possibly been reformed for reuse from an earlier and larger bow brooch. The brooch weighs 2.52g and consists of a rectangular cross-section at the foot (width 2.9mm x 1.7mm thickness) which flares outwards to a width of 3.7mm and thickness of 1.6mm at a diatance of 25.0mm from the foot. The bow then bends over backwards and starts to taper at a distance of c.37.0mm from the foot and the cross-section gradually becomes sub-circular. The reverse half of the bend of the bow forms the brooch pin. The approximate juncture between the rectangular and circular cross-section is defined by the presence of a slender decorative strip of silver that has been wrapped around the pin shank. This strip of silver wire occupies 1.2mm of the length of the bow/pin and forms a diameter around the bow/pin of 3.6mm. A gap of c.0.6mm is present between the ends of the strip which do not over lap or butt together. Directly above the decorative strip the top of the bow/start of the pin has a width of 2.1mm and thickness of 1.9mm. Below the decorative strip the pin continues to taper, for a length of 14.1mm, to a point.

A sub-rectangular or trapezoidal catchplate projects out from behind the brooch foot. This solid catchplate starts 1.7mm up from the base of the foot and has a length of 7.6mm. The catchplate projects out from the reverse surface of the foot for 5.2mm before bending over to form the return. The return initially appears to be triangular in shape but closer inspection reveals a break across one corner suggesting that the return may originally have been of a more rectangular form.;
Event Date 2016
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Description (Physical description)
Miniature silver one-piece bow brooch, possibly a votive model. The bow of the brooch is a thick strip, bent back over itself, and narrowing as it tapers to a point. Rectangular catch plate. A silver ring surround the upper strip.
Event Date 15/9/2020
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Exhibition (Li Ka Shing Gallery)
EXH.2023.12 | Beneath Our Feet: Archaeology of the Cambridge Region
Event Date 21/6/2023
Author: Imogen Gunn