Copper Alloy Roman Brooch Pin from around AD 25 – 60. This is one of two brooch pins found during the excavations of the Brighton Hill South Site in Basingstoke.
Brooches would have been used by men and women to fasten their clothing. The Stola was worn over a Tunica by older Roman women as an indication of their respectability and modesty and ‘immoral women’, such as women who had committed adultery and sex-workers, were forbidden from wearing it. A stola would be draped over the top of a tunica and fastened at the shoulders either by knotting or pining in place.
The Brighton Hill South area was the subject of many archaeological excavations, with a series of excavations taking place between 1984-86, and further evaluations done in 1989. A short excavation took place on the site in early 1990 before building works for housing in the area began.
This brooch (A1987.13.1615) is on the far left of the image below, of the brooches on display in the Basingstoke's My Home Exhibition at the Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery an exhibition celebrating immigration in Basingstoke throughout time.
This object was audited and researched as part of the Heritage Fund Data Hunters and Story Gatherers project.
