Enamel Dragon Shaped Brooches
Roman Britain 70-120 AD
Found in excavations at Winchester in the late 1970’s. A pair of leaded gunmetal brooches came from a cremation burial outside the city’s north gate. Also in the grave were 22 pots and possibly a gaming set made from bone.
The brooches were probably worn one on each shoulder and connected by a chain across the chest.
This type of brooch was common in the tribal regions of the Parisi and the Brigantes in the North of England. It is possible that their owner received the brooches through trade or that they were originally from that area of Britain and travelled and died at Winchester.
The richness of the grave goods, and celtic style of brooch suggest that this was the burial of an important person, but not that of a Roman. In fact we have nothing that can even tell us if the individual who owned these brooches was a man or a woman.
Source: Winchester Museums
