These are a pair of lead metal brooches with dragon-shaped enamel, dating back to the Roman era, around 70-120 AD. They were unearthed during excavations conducted by the archaeological section of the Winchester Museum Service on Victoria Road, Winchester, during the mid to late 1970s.
These brooches were discovered in a cremation burial site situated in the cemetery near the north gate of Roman Winchester. The grave also contained a remarkable collection of 22 pottery vessels and possibly remnants of a bone gaming set that had been incinerated on the funeral pyre. It is likely that, during their lifetime, these brooches were worn, one pinned on each shoulder and connected across the chest by a chain.
Although the majority of dragon brooches of this kind were typically found in the northern regions of England, within the tribal territories of the Parisi and the Brigantes, these brooches may have reached Winchester through trade. Alternatively, it's plausible that the individual interred in this grave either originated from that area or had familial ties to it. The opulence of the grave goods and the Celtic-style design of the brooches suggest that the occupant was of significant importance, although likely not of Roman descent. Due to the cremation, it is impossible to ascertain the age and gender of the deceased, and it's worth noting that brooches served as clothing fasteners for both men and women in Roman Britain.