Brooch, crossbow brooch

Gilded copper-alloy crossbow brooch found in the grave of a late Roman man in the eastern cemetery of Roman London. His grave goods (two glass bottles, a brooch and a belt decorated with chip-carved metal plates) indicated that he was a man of high rank, possibly a senior soldier or official in the Roman government. The head and arms of the brooch end in onion-shaped knobs (one missing). It has a short, arched bow and openwork filigree decoration on each side of the foot, suggesting a late 4th- or early 5th-century date. The pin is missing. This brooch was found in the chest area of the man’s right side, suggesting that he may have been wearing it when he was buried.
It is a Keller Type 6 brooch.