Many Anglo-Saxon women wore pairs of brooches, one at each shoulder, to fasten their dresses in place. This particular type of brooch is known as a 'cruciform' (cross-shaped) brooch, from the shape of the head. When new this would have been an impressive piece of jewellery. It would not have been dull green, but a shining bronze colour. It is also decorated with five little enamelled discs. The enamel has now decayed to a murky white, but originally it would have been a bright colour - perhaps yellow, red or green.