The ‘dragonesque’ shape of this brooch is a typical Romano-British adornment, first appearing after the start of the Roman occupation (AD 43), but incoporating something of the native ‘Celtic’ style and it would originally have been decorated with colourful enamels. It was found in Victoria Cave, Yorkshire. Interestingly, not long after the Roman conquest of northern Britain in the AD70s, people began placing small objects in the cave, mostly in areas that were dark and difficult to reach. Many Roman soldiers came from places with strong beliefs about caves, and we now think Victoria was the site of a Romano-British cave cult.
Dearne, M J and Lord, T C (eds.) 1998. The Romano-British Archaeology of Victoria Cave, Settle. Research into the site and its artefacts. British Archaeological Reports. British Series 278
Archived in the Tot Lord Collection, Yorkshire.
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