8 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Uncovering a Rare Enamelled Roman Brooch in Scotland

Recent research by GUARD Archaeology highlights a rare enamelled Roman brooch, suggesting its potential use in a “foundation offerings ritual” at an Iron Age fort in Scotland, and sheds light on the interactions between local Britons and the Roman army in the late second century AD.

Excavations at the William Grant & Sons Girvan Distillery in South Ayrshire in 2020 revealed an Iron Age settlement from a time when southern Scotland had fallen out of Roman control, with GUARD Archaeologists uncovering the remains of a significant timber roundhouse encircled by a robust wooden palisade and a large gated entranceway, likely indicating the residence of a prosperous farming family.

During the excavation, GUARD Archaeologists unearthed an enamelled bronze brooch from the foundation trench of the timber palisade, a notable find due to its distinctly Roman origin rather than local craftsmanship. Researchers are now hypothesizing about the brooch’s intended use and how it came to be in Scotland without ever being worn.

Jordan Barbour, one of the co-authors of the report, stated that the exotic brooch and similar items typically date to the late second century AD and are most commonly found along the borders of the Roman Empire, particularly in eastern Gaul, Switzerland, and the Rhineland. He noted that the distribution pattern of these brooches indicates their popularity among members of the Roman military forces, suggesting that the brooch likely arrived north of Hadrian’s Wall on the cloak of a Roman soldier assigned to garrison the Empire’s northernmost frontier.

Aerial view of GUARD Archaeology’s excavation of the palisaded settlement at the Curragh. Credit: GUARD Archaeology
Aerial view of GUARD Archaeology’s excavation of the palisaded settlement at the Curragh. Credit: GUARD Archaeology

Jordan Barbour stated that while it is difficult to determine the exact reason for the deposition of the brooch within the palisade trench, ritualized foundation offerings are observed across many cultures, typically performed to grant protection to a household, which remains a possibility in this case. He noted that there are several plausible scenarios regarding how the brooch ended up at the site. It is the only Roman artifact recovered from the location, and if the inhabitants had established regular trade with Roman Britain, a greater variety of Roman objects would be expected; however, the context is distinctly native. Therefore, it is more likely that the brooch was obtained through ad hoc exchanges with Roman troops operating north of Hadrian’s Wall, or possibly even taken as a trophy in battle.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



The Curragh Iron Age dwelling was located on a rocky plateau, characterized by a steep escarpment that restricted access from the north. This strategic positioning, along with the strong timber palisade surrounding the dwelling, suggests that defensive concerns played a significant role in its placement. Although there were no contemporary Roman forts in the vicinity following the abandonment of the Antonine Wall earlier in the second century AD, the presence of a Roman marching camp from the first century AD, located approximately two kilometers to the southwest, indicates a history of military activity in the area. It is likely that conflicts between local Britons and Roman soldiers were a recurring aspect of Rome’s intermittent occupation of south-west Scotland.

Credit: GUARD Archaeology

In addition to the palisaded roundhouse, GUARD Archaeologists uncovered other significant archaeological features at the Curragh. The enduring attractiveness of the plateau was highlighted by the discovery of an earlier unenclosed roundhouse, which has been radiocarbon dated to around the seventh century BC, predating the Roman arrival in Britain by many centuries. Furthermore, evidence of even earlier habitation was found in the form of pottery dating back to the early Neolithic period, associated with a large timber monument constructed between 3,700 and 3,500 BC.

ARO59 A Neolithic Monument, Iron Age Homesteads and Early Medieval Kilns: excavations at the Curragh, Girvan by Jordan Barbour and Dave McNichol is freely available to download from Archaeology Reports Online.

GUARD Archaeology

Related Articles

The Headless Corpses of Somersham was Victims of Roman Executions

30 May 2021

30 May 2021

Excavations at Knobb’s Farm in Somersham, Cambridgeshire, unearthed three small late Roman graves on the outskirts of an agricultural village....

‘Miniature Pompeii’ found beneath Astra cinema in Verona

15 June 2021

15 June 2021

Archaeologists have uncovered a “miniature Pompeii” in the shape of a well-preserved ancient edifice near Verona, Italy. An old Roman...

Burials covered in red dye discovered in Serbian barrows

18 February 2022

18 February 2022

Polish archaeologists excavating two barrow mounds in Vojvodina, in the northern part of the Republic of Serbia, have uncovered the...

Discovery of 1,500-Year-Old Mosaic at Ancient City of Dara in Mardin, Türkiye

7 July 2025

7 July 2025

According to information provided by Anadolu Agency, archaeologists have recently uncovered a remarkably well-preserved 1,500-year-old mosaic decorated with drop and...

The Life of the Maya Ambassador Found in El Palmar was not Easy

18 March 2021

18 March 2021

El Palmar is a small plaza compound in Mexico near the borders of Belize and Guatemala. Archaeologists Kenichiro Tsukamoto and...

3 mummified skeletons were found in Iznik, western Turkey

8 October 2021

8 October 2021

Archaeologists discovered mummified skeletons dating from the 2nd century A.D. within two sarcophagi at the Hisardere Necropolis in Bursa’s Iznik...

The camel carvings in Saudi Arabia are 8000 years old!

15 September 2021

15 September 2021

Life-size animal reliefs found in Saudi Arabia were carved almost 8,000 years ago, during the Neolithic period, when the desert...

A Rare Late Neolithic Period Seal found in Domuztepe Mound

25 August 2022

25 August 2022

A rare Late Neolithic Seal was discovered during the 2022 excavations of the Domuztepe Mound (Domuztepe Höyük), located on the...

31 Unknown Shipwrecks, Including a Rare Sailing Ship, Discovered in Lake Constance

13 August 2025

13 August 2025

In a groundbreaking underwater archaeology project, researchers have discovered 31 previously unknown shipwrecks lying silently on the floor of Lake...

Hoard of Thousands of Coins Buried During Europe’s Most Turbulent Years Discovered

14 September 2025

14 September 2025

Discovery in Świerszczów near Hrubieszów sheds light on everyday currency and hidden treasures of the early modern era A remarkable...

4th Century BC Greek Shipwreck Discovered Near Croatian Island of Vis – One of the Adriatic’s Oldest

10 July 2025

10 July 2025

A significant archaeological find has been confirmed off the coast of Komiža, near the Croatian island of Vis, where researchers...

In France, a burial with six ankle bracelets was uncovered

22 December 2022

22 December 2022

An individual bedecked in copper jewelry was discovered during the excavation of a protohistoric necropolis in Aubagne, southeastern France. The...

Two statuettes of Demeter discovered in Aigai, the ‘city of goats’ of the Aeolians in western Türkiye

20 November 2023

20 November 2023

Two statuettes of Demeter, the Greek goddess of earth and fertility, were discovered in a cistern in the ancient city...

1500-year-old Stunning Pendant Amulet Depicting the Prophet Solomon Spearing the Devil on Horseback Found in Türkiye

15 November 2024

15 November 2024

During the excavations in the ancient city of Hadrianopolis in Eskipazar district of Karabük, Türkiye, an amulet from the 5th...

New studies confirm that there was indeed a shipyard at Lothal, the commercial center of the Harappan civilization and world’s oldest port

6 September 2024

6 September 2024

Since the discovery of Harappan sites at Lothal, located about 30 kilometers inland from the coast of the Gulf of...