ROMANO-BRITISH BERKSHIRE illustrated by No. 13, which appears to be of northern European origin. Here the bow assumes a stumpy form, and the catch-plate, which is solid, increases in depth, such excessive dimensions as those of figs. 14 and 15 being characteristic of north German examples. They have been called Pannonian, and referred to the third century by different authorities. As the apparent prototypes of a large number of bronze specimens found in Anglo-Saxon burials of the fifth century, they are of special importance in the evolution of the brooch in this country. The concluding members of the series are better dated than most known brooches and are certainly characteristic of the fourth century, a few belonging to the late third or the early fifth century. This is known as the cross-bow type, and gave rise to another series of Anglo-Saxon specimens found chiefly in the Anglian area. One side of the head is wanting in fig. 16, which has a rudimentary disc projecting from the lower part of the bow ; this disc attained considerable size on a type common in central Europe at a somewhat earlier date. Fig. 17 is a typical specimen ; the knobs are in this case ornamental, but sometimes they carry screws ; and that at the centre is frequently attached to the pin, which is quite separate from the bow. The broad foot is often inscribed, letters being sometimes inserted in silver or other distinctive metals ; and the lettering points clearly enough to the Constantine period, Christian mottoes and symbols being of frequent occurrence. 227
