Brooches in Late Iron Age and Roman Britain

This book provides an overview of the most common find after coins on sites in Roman Britain, the brooch. It examines 15,000 specimens and discusses manufacturing techniques, methods of study, and dating. The book explores the various styles of brooches from the second century B.C. to the early fifth century A.D., and the final chapter discusses the social implications of the great change in brooch-wearing that occurred in the third century. Originally published as a two-volume hardback, this combined paperback edition makes the work more accessible to a wider audience.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 456 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2023
Publisher: Oxbow Books

This comprehensive work, the culmination of forty years of study, provides an overview of the most prevalent artifacts discovered on Roman Britain sites, after coins, namely brooches. Primarily used to secure outer clothing, these ornate accessories were always on display and often adorned with decorative elements. Drawing from a comprehensive examination of approximately 15,000 specimens, this significant publication offers a profound insight into the world of brooches.

The book begins by delving into the techniques of manufacturing and the methodologies employed for studying brooches. It then explores the concept of dating, which plays a crucial role in understanding the chronological progression of brooch styles. Subsequently, the book delves into a detailed examination of the diverse range of brooches from the second century B.C., when the wearing of brooches gained widespread popularity, to the early fifth century A.D., when newcomers introduced their own brooch styles, exerting influence on the prevailing fashion.

The final chapter serves as a synthesis of various themes discussed throughout the body of the work, as well as the societal implications of the significant shift in brooch-wearing that occurred in the third century. Originally published as a two-volume hardback, divided into a text volume and a second volume featuring author-drawn illustrations of approximately 2,000 examples, this combined paperback edition of volumes 1 and 2 of Brooches in Late Iron Age and Roman Britain ensures that this important contribution to the field remains accessible to a broader audience.

Weight: 1732g
Dimension: 210 x 299 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789259889