Zoomorphic spiral bracelet, Culbin, Scotland

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This extraordinary Iron Age brooch would have been a true status symbol. The terminals are fashioned like faces, complete with enamelled eyes and mouths. The intricate design on the coiled body conceals other creatures within its patterns. These brooches are characteristic of Angus in eastern Scotland, but this one was discovered nearly 150km to the north, at Culbin Sands on the Moray Firth coast. It highlights connections across this region – did it travel on the arm of the woman who wore it? The diameter of these brooches suggests they were female adornments. This was a casual discovery around 1823, made by a man out hunting in the sand dunes at Culbin, Moray, Scotland, UK. Accession No: X.FA 90 Object name: zoomorphic spiral brooch Date: AD 70-220 Style/culture: Roman Iron Age, north-east Scottish 'massive' style Materials: copper alloy (leaded gunmetal, an alloy of copper, tin and zinc) Dimensions: height 85mm Model: Hugo Anderson-Whymark