Description

Summary: An incomplete quoit-headed pin, now in five pieces, part of a middle Bronze Age hoard found by metal detectorist Nick Ludlow in Heywood, Wiltshire.

Research results

An incomplete Middle Bronze Age Quoit-Headed Pin discovered by a metal detectorist operating in Heywood, Wiltshire, and purchased by the Museum through the mechanisms of the Treasure Act 1996. This pin was found as part of a small hoard of Middle Bronze Age copper alloy objects including a palstave axehead, twisted torc and a North French 'Liss-style' bracelet. Although the surviving fragments represent only a small portion of the pin, it probably had a relatively very large ovoid head and the surviving fragments show that it was decorated with notches and slight flanges around the edge of the head. Large Quoit-Headed pins such as this were probably too heavy to have had a practical function, and may have even warped woven garments. It has been suggested that their large circular heads may actually have served as frames, potentially for a woven brocage or similar.

This pin was examined by Dr Andrew Lawson in his re-evaluation of the type.