Double disc brooch, Carzield

This double disk enamel brooch was found at the site of the Roman fort at Carzield. Enamelled in blue and red the brooch has a ribbed knob in each centre, and was found in late March, 1965 by Mr. J. Williams, in a Roman period rubbish tip outside the fort.   Roman decorative pieces    Copper alloy objects were often tinned or silvered. Tinning simply requires the object to be dipped in molten tin, while silvering was achieved by beating out silver foil and attaching it to the object with lead/tin solder.   Tinning was used for helmets, scabbard and belt fittings, cavalry harness and even armour. Silvering was used on cavalry equipment. Dagger sheaths were sometimes decorated with silver, brass or gold inlays. From the second century AD onwards enamel inlay became popular.