Roman brooches in Britain: a technological and typological study based on the Richborough collection
Justine Bayley, Sarnia Butcher, 2005. https://doi.org/10.5284/1000191. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © Dr Justine Bayley unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Dr
Justine
Bayley
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 412
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1000191
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction to the publication
In the early 1970s there was an opportunity to study the 445 extant brooches from Richborough as a group, both by the traditional typological method and by scientific methods which had not so far been applied systematically to material of this type. The early work indicated that there were significant correlations between typology, alloy composition and techniques of decoration. The decision was taken to extend the survey to brooches from other sites with the result that some 3500 brooches have been analysed and examined. The data for all these brooches is presented, and the overall patterns are summarised and discussed.
Details are given of the methods of brooch construction and the techniques of decoration used. These provide new information on the processes of manufacture and the nature of the metalworking industry in the Roman period. Contrary to the general assumption current when this study started, that all ancient copper alloy objects were made of bronze, it is shown that a range of alloys was employed and that composition and hence alloy properties, correlate with brooch type and decoration. The association of certain manufacturing and decorative techniques with certain types of brooch suggests the geographical location of workshops.
An outline of the main brooch types found in Roman Britain generally, including those not represented at Richborough, is given in order to show how traditional typological methods of study can be related to the technological evidence. Extensive lists of typological parallels are given, and their distribution within Britain is shown in a series of maps.
Bayley, Justine and Butcher, Sarnia 2004, Roman Brooches in Britain: A Technological and Typological Study based on the Richborough Collection Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London 68, Society of Antiquaries of London.
This publication is available open access from the Society of Antiquaries at: https://doi.org/10.26530/20.500.12657/50365
Introduction to the data
The analytical data for the brooches is contained in the spreadsheet Brooches.csv available from the downloads page.
The columns are:
| A | Site name (see Table 1 for key to the codes) |
| B | English Heritage Ancient Monuments Laboratory number |
| C | Site number (usually small finds number) |
| D | Published number (reference number in publication; details in Table 1) |
| E | Brooch type (see Table 2 for key to codes) |
| F | Decoration (see Table 3 for key to codes) |
| G | Enamel colours (see Table 4 for key to codes) |
| H-L | Weight percentage compositions, for those brooches analysed quantitatively |
| M | Alloy name |
