Brooch
This particular brooch was discovered in the North Lincolnshire district in England by a metal detectorist. It was discovered sometime in the late 90s. It was likely produced between 850 and 900 AD, during the Norse settlement of England.[2] It was found in an area that was, at that time, part of Danelaw. The brooch is made of a copper-alloy, meaning it likely belonged to someone with less money or status than those at the top. The simple design on it, a creature facing backwards with its mouth agape, tells the same story, as does the fact that the brooch was likely cast and possibly mass-produced. Brooches that belong to people of higher status or higher financial grounds often featured intricate designs and jewels, as well as less common metals, such as silver.
Multiple examples of these types of brooches have been found through England and Scandinavia. This shows how universal the wearing of brooches was, at that time. The type of low-class material and design also points to how universal the brooches were. This brooch was likely used as a fastener by a woman, possibly even one of non-Scandinavian lineage. It is possible that this belonged to an Anglo-Saxon woman, who adopted aspects of Norse culture.[3]
The finding of this brooch does not seem to really challenge any of the previous assumptions that are drawn from early texts about the Norse. The brooch simply served its function as a holder for a dress, as well as a way for the wearer to display her class. This particular brooch is important because it shows the wide-reaching influence of the Scandinavian culture within Danelaw, and that it penetrated all levels of the social ladder.
