Crossbow Fibula

Description: Our object is a developed crossbow fibula. A similar crossbow fibula from the British Museum (1870,0402.27) can be used in conjunction with Roman Brooches in Britain: A Technological and Typological Study Based on the Richborough Collection (Bayley and Butcher, 2005) in order to best understand the construction of our fibula. Based on both of these sources, our object is most likely composed of a copper-alloy. In the style of a developed crossbow brooch or fibula, our object is in the shape of a cross with two terminal knobs on the ends of the crossbar and the upper bow. On our fibua, the left knob appears to be worn down. This appears to be a common condition for fibulae similar to ours, as the fibula from the British Museum shows similar wear on all three knobs (1870,0402.27). As is common with the developed crossbow brooch, the arched upper bow is shorter than the long splayed foot, however both are decorated (Bayley and Butcher, 2005). Along the upper bows of both our object and the fibula from the British Museum, there appears to be a ridged or diamond pattern along the center of the bow, with possible ridged designs along either side of the bow. This design is worn down on both fibulae, although that of the British Museum appears to be in better condition. There appears to be two sets of decoration along the long splayed foot and each set is made up of four punched ring and dot designs. There is similar decoration on the long splayed foot of the British Museum’s fibula. Another object from the British Museum, a disc brooch also made of a copper-alloy may suggest that the punched ring designs were at some point enhanced with paint or enamel (1978,0102.341).