In the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome, fibulae (or brooches) were originally used for fastening garments. They came in a variety of shapes, but all were based on the safety pin principle. Roman conquests spread the use of the fibula, which became the basis for more complicated brooches. Fibulae are the most common artefact-type in burials and settlements throughout much of the continental Europe.
P-shaped brooches were highly popular among Roman soldiers, especially those stationed in the upper Rhine and upper Danube areas. Certain types also found their way across to Britain, including those with a single bow and open spring, such as this one.
