Experts Stumble on a Rare Roman-Era Bronze Brooch Hidden Under a Foundation Trench That Was Used for Household Protection

Artifacts provide a glimpse into the traditions and beliefs of ancient societies. Archaeologists recently analyzed an item from Scotland that gave them insights into the efforts put in by people to protect their households, stated The Jerusalem Post. The discovery took place in an Iron Age settlement at Curragh in South Ayrshire.

The finding was a rare Roman-era enameled bronze brooch. The artifact was discovered during the 2020 excavations inside the William Grant & Sons Girvan Distillery. Researchers believe the brooch was originally placed by certain individuals in the foundations of a fortified roundhouse. Experts think that the bronze brooch was put there as an offering by people to pray for the household's safety.

The placement was possibly incorporated into the foundation when the timber palisade around the roundhouse was being constructed. "It's difficult to say exactly why the brooch was deposited within the palisade trench, but we know that ritualized foundation offerings are observed across many cultures, typically enacted to grant protection to a household, and this is certainly a possibility here," said Jordan Barbour, who co-authored the report on the findings. 

As per examinations, the artifact dates back to the late second century C.E. This implies that the artifact came to the region just when the Roman Empire was losing its authority in the south of the country, stated BBC. Romans left Scotland around 210 A.D. but stayed in Britain for two more centuries. During the excavation, the team found what they believed to be the remains of a woodhouse constructed from timber. Researchers noted that the structure was enveloped by a wooden palisade and also had a gated entryway, stated The Jerusalem Post. The architecture implied that the dwelling belonged to a wealthy farming household. The brooch was spotted by archaeologists at the bottom of the foundation trench that supposedly kept in place the timber palisade. 

The Iron Age settlement in the area was situated above a rocky plateau. The woodhouse was placed at the northern section of the settlement and appeared to be guarded by a timber palisade for protection purposes. Researchers speculate that the brooch was possibly brought by a Roman soldier. "These brooches were particularly popular among members of the Roman military forces, so it's likely that it came north of Hadrian's Wall on the cloak of a Roman soldier tasked with garrisoning the Empire's northernmost frontier," added Barbour. Similar brooches have been located by archaeologists in Switzerland, Rhineland, and present-day central Europe, stated BBC.

No other Roman artifact was unearthed from the area, which indicates that no large-scale exchanges were happening with Roman communities. "If the inhabitants had established regular trade with Roman Britain, we might expect to find a greater variety of Roman objects, but this is a solidly native context," said Barbour, stated The Jerusalem Post. He added that the brooch possibly came into the region through an ad hoc exchange with Roman troops that were employed north of Hadrian's Wall or was a battle prize for victors. Researchers want to analyze the brooch and any other similar artifacts further as it would shed light on how ancient Scots interacted with Roman soldiers, stated BBC.