This study is dedicated to the head-shield brooches from the tarand cemetery area in Estonia, Latvia

and lands west of the Izhora plateau. Its aim is to better understand their development through

a combined typological, compositional and chronological analysis and explore their social role

in the identity politics of the people wearing them. The compositional evaluation was supported

with portable X-ray florescence spectrometry (XRF), to improve our understanding of the metal

choices made by their ancient craftsmen.

The typological study suggests that one of the earliest brooches found in the tarand cemetery area

belongs to the Almgren 100 brooches, most of which have a semi-circular shield on the front part

of the bow, a multiple-piece spring, and a triangular foot. The evidence suggests that they emerged

in the 2nd century. Subsequently, a local form developed in the northeast part of the tarand cemetery

area towards the end of the century. This local type has a squared-off foot, a multiple-piece

spring construction, and a short semi-circular head-shield. Many were also tinned, meaning their

colour was deliberately changed to a shiny silvery-white. During the 3rd century, a further group

of locally produced head-shield brooches also emerged. They have a hinged mechanism, a knob,

and a decorative rib at the end of the foot.

These local brooches likely represented a regional style and aesthetic. They could have played a

visual role in connecting the wearer to their affiliated group, or played a part in a differing social

role within the society from which they came.