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Pins - 2

The pins in our collection are made from copper alloy or bone. Some of the copper alloy pins are decorated with glass beads at the head. They range from very simply carved or cast pins to elaborately moulded examples with ornate heads.

The more elaborate styles of pin may have been an indicator of wealth or status within a society. Pins of gold and silver have been found, which may have belonged to important individuals, but sadly none are present in our collection

Less impressive perishable materials were also used as pins to fasten the everyday clothing of your average Iron Age person for example. Tacitus, the Roman historian (AD56-AD120), wrote that thorns were used as pins, but these have long since degraded.

Broken copper alloy pin with glass bead.

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