Langton-Down Fibulae

The main features of "Langton-Down" fibulae are: a flat, band-shaped, longitudinally grooved bow, which is just cut off at the foot end, a roller-shaped spring sleeve, on which the bow sits more or less flat, and a frame-shaped needle holder that is broken through or divided by webs. The Langton-Down fibula is considered to be the direct successor to the Nauheim fibula and is regarded as a typical part of the women 's costume (Ettlinger 158); but it is possible that it was also worn by men, as its frequent occurrence in Vindonissa suggests.

Date: Early Augustan - Claudian (some worn later)

Distribution: The type is found in Western Europe: England, France, the Rhineland and Switzerland. A little more than 1 in 10 fibulae found in France are Langton-Down fibulae. They are very rare to find in the east.

Riha divides Langton-Down Fibulae int six 6 variants based on the shape of the bow head, the outline of the bow and its decoration:

4.4.1 Bow attachment to head is curved, bow with curved sides
4.4.2 Bow attachment to head is curved, bow with straight sides and equal width from head to foot
4.4.3 Bow attachment to head is straight, bow tapers to foot
4.4.4 Bow attachment to head is straight, bow with straight sides and equal width from head to foot
4.4.5 Wavy silver inlay down length of bow.
4.4.6 Silver thread inlaid down length of bow.

Riha Type 4.4.1 With a curved bow attachment and curved bow edges. London 1964, fig. 8, 10; Haffner 1971, plate 226, 2; Lerat 88 & 91; Bulliot 1899, plate 50, 2.; Mostly Augustan - Tiberian


Riha 476. Longitudinal strips arranged in three groups around a row of pearls. Needle catch with a cross bar. L. 5.3 cm.; Ettlinger 1944, plate 21, 2.

Riha 477.  Same as 476. Frame-shaped needle catch.  L. 5.5 cm., mid to third quarter of the 1st century, another 2nd half of the 2nd century.

Riha 483. In the middle of the longitudinal profile conductor pattern. L. 7 cm.

Riha 484. Longitudinal strips on the bracket at regular intervals. The entire top of the sleeve is decorated with grooves. Frame-shaped needle catch. L. 3.8 cm., Bruckner 3015.

Riha 485. Like 483. L. 5.8 cm.

486. Like 483. Flat curved bracket attachment. Damaged, foot end broken off.

Riha 502. Bow narrows towards the foot. L. 6 cm.

Riha 4.4.2 With arched bow attachment and bow of equal width down its length to foot.

Riha 503. Five longitudinal fields on the bracket with alternately higher and lower strips. The bar on the base of the bracket is notched, the sleeve is radially engraved. L. 5.3 cm.

Riha Type 4.4.3 With a straight bow attachment and tapered bow.

Riha 504. Three beads alternate with four strips on the flat, band-shaped bow. 5.8 cm.

Riha Type 4.4.4 With a straight bracket attachment and bracket of the same width. Troyes pl. 42, 516; Lerat 86-87; Argentomagus 113; Dijon Taf. 24, 96; Haffner 1971, pl. 127.3.

Riha 505. Between three groups of longitudinal strips two dotted wavy lines. L. 4.4 cm. Troyes pl. 42, 516; Dollfus 309-310; Titelberg 97; Behrens 1954, 222, Fig. 2.13.

Riha 506. Like 505. L. 4.8 cm. Ettlinger pl. 7.6. See Cat. Vienne No. 194. Ettlinger 1944, 100, ill. 25.

Riha 507. Four longitudinal strips with a central channel. L. 4.5 cm. See Titelberg 100.

Riha 508. Three double strips on the bracket. L. 4.2 cm., find 1st century (mainly 2nd half).

Riha 509. Probably like 505. L. 4 cm. 1st half of the 2nd century.

Riha 513. Short head with a central channel. L. 3.5 cm.

Riha Type 4.4.5 With wavy silver inlay.

Riha 522. fragment of a fibula without head. The bow is of the same width, divided into two profiled fringes by two longitudinal grooves and a bulging central field, which is decorated with a wavy line inlaid in silver.  L. 5.6 cm. Time of Nero.

Riha Type 4.4.6 With silver thread inlaid down length of bow.

Riha 523. L. 5.4 cm.

Riha 524. L. 6.3 cm.