Man finds 'kid's toy' that is rare 2,000-year-old brooch

A metal detectorist unearthed a rare 2,000-year-old brooch – and at first mistook the Roman artefact for a children's toy.

- ALEX ROSS

Martin Williams discovered the decorative bronze item just 15 minutes into searching a recently ploughed field near his home in Dorchester. After finding children's model cars from the 1960s and 70s nearby, he initially suspected the brooch was nothing more than another toy.

"When I first spotted it in the ground I saw the back of it had a latch, and so I thought it was some sort of badge a child may have worn," the 54-year-old told The Independent. “I then chucked it in a big bag I carry for lead, and it was only when I got back and cleaned it properly that I saw the bronze material. I thought 'thank God', as I could've easily broken it."

After the find, Mr Williams invited a local finds liaison officer, who described it as an "interesting item for Dorset" that is not a common type of brooch nationally. Dated between 1,800 and 2,000 years old, it is likely to have been worn during the Roman rule of Britain, which lasted until around 410AD.