TREASURE ANNU AL REPORT 2005/6 - Portable Antiquities Scheme

ROMAN
(I) bRACELETs
91. Warburton, Cheshire: Roman silver bracelet
(2005 T566)
Date: 1st–4th century AD
Discovery: Found by Mr J Balme while metal-detecting
in October 2005.
Description: The bracelet has been pulled out of its
original form, now comprising a plain narrow strip,
plano-convex in section. The zoomorphic-head terminal
has become detached post deposition. The other end of
the bracelet is missing but this may also have originally
had a zoomorphic-head terminal or perhaps a terminal
representing the tail of the creature.
The head is plain and its features comprise a rounded
snout, an open mouth and a pair of eyes on the top
of its head. It has a flat base. Interestingly, it is pierced
vertically behind the eyes by a 1mm diameter drilled
hole. There is also visible evidence that other end of
the bracelet had broken at the point where a hole
had been drilled. These may represent fixing holes,
which together with the straightening of the bracelet,
suggests the object may have been reused by being
attached to something. Length: 148mm; width of
terminal: 7.9mm; weight: 10.38g.
Discussion: It is not entirely clear what animal is
represented; in plan, it appears to be a serpent, but
in profile resembles a sea creature, in particular a
dolphin. A comparison of design can be made between
this example and one found in a hoard at Llandovery,
although the latter is in gold (Brailsford 1964, fig.6, p.13).
Disposition: Manchester Museum hopes to acquire.
N HEREPATH
92. Turvey, bedfordshire: Roman silver penannular
bracelet fragment (2006 T54)
Date: Probably 2nd–3rd century AD
Discovery: Found by Mr D Phillips while metaldetecting
in January 2006.
Description: A Roman penannular silver bracelet
fragment, comprising part of the slender oval-sectioned
hoop, now distorted, and one terminal. The terminal is
in the form of a stylised snake head with neatly incised
jaws, round eyes and skull markings, and hatched sides
representing the scaled body. Length: 30.8mm; width of
snake-head: 4.4mm; weight: 2.3g.
Discussion: Snake jewellery, with its important
symbolism, was popular over a long period, in Roman
Britain as in other provinces of the Roman Empire. The
slender, relatively realistic form of this snake bracelet is
comparable to an example from Stonea, Cambridgshire
(Jackson & Potter 1996, fig. 106, no. 7). Precise dating
of snake jewellery is usually difficult; however, this
example probably dates as above.
Disposition: Generously donated by the finder and
landowner to Bedford Museum.
R JACKSON
93. Ludford, Lincolnshire: Roman silver bracelet
(2005 T506)
Date: Late 4th century AD
Discovery: Found by Mr N Campbell & Mr P Campbell
while metal-detecting in March 2005.
Description: A complete silver adjustable bracelet
made from an undecorated wire, tapering towards the
terminals, which overlap and twist around the hoop to
fasten the bracelet. External diameter: 49mm;
width: 3mm.
Discussion: Commonly found made out of copper
alloy, this form of expanding bracelet is a well-known
type dating as above (Barber & Bowsher 2000, p199,
B461.3–4; Clarke 1979, p304, Type C1a). Precious
metal examples are far less common, although a gold
example is known from York (British Museum Guide,
1951, fig. 7, no. 10), and a silver example from London
(Wheeler 1930, Pl. XL, 2).
Disposition: British Museum.
A DAUBNEY
94. Turvey, bedfordshire: Roman silver snake
bracelet terminal (2006 T282) pAs ID: pAs-885E05
Found by Mr D Phillips & Mr B Plason while metaldetecting
in May 2006; disclaimed, returned to finders.
R HOBBS
95. Exeter, Devon: Roman copper-alloy bracelet
fragments with tin-enriched surface (2006 T647)
pAs ID: pAs-886EC2
Found by Exeter Field Archaeology Unit during
controlled excavation in June 2006; not Treasure,
returned to main site archive.
R JACKSON
96. Fylde area, Lancashire: possible Roman gold
sheet fragment, probably a snake’s head bracelet
terminal (2006 T269) pAs ID: LANCum-2CC561
Found by Mr M Wolstencroft while metal-detecting
in May 2006; disclaimed, returned to finder and
generously donated to Lancashire Museums.
R HOBBS
97. East Winch, Norfolk: 10 Roman gold & silver
coins and two copper-alloy bracelets (2005 T233)
See coin section no. 1077
98. Chiseldon, Wiltshire: Roman silver bracelet
fragments (2005 T12) pAs ID: WILT-38EFC3
Found by Mr P Hyams while metal-detecting in
December 2004; generously donated by the finder and
landowner to Swindon Museum.
K HINDS
(II) bRooChEs
99. Littlethorpe, North yorkshire:
Late Roman silver penannular brooch (2006 T253)
Date: Probably 3rd–4th century AD
Discovery: Found by Mr A Grange while metaldetecting
in April 2006.
Description: The brooch, which has lost its pin, is
formed by a penannular ring of circular section. The
two ends are folded back on top of the ring, then
shaped into simple animal head terminals with concave
sides and chevron incisions forming the snout. The
top and sides of the hoop are decorated towards the
terminals with zones of transverse ribbing. Diameter:
20mm; weight: 2.24g. Surface analysis indicated a silver
content of approximately 95%.
Discussion: The zoomorphic terminals and ribbed
hoop identify the brooch as an example of Fowler’s
penannular type E, well-dated examples of which
belong to the 4th century AD and possibly a little
earlier (Fowler 1960, fig. 1 and 13; Fowler 1963, fig.
1). The main distribution area is in the Highland or
Military zone of Britain. Occasional examples from
later contexts may be residual.
Disposition: Disclaimed, returned to finder.
B AGER
100. st. osyth, Essex: Roman copper-alloy ‘disc-andtrumpet’
brooch (2005 T413) pAs ID: pAs-88F2b5
Found by Mr U van der Brock while metal-detecting in
September 2005; not Treasure, returned to finder.
R JACKSON
101. Cossington, Leicestershire: Roman silver
crossbow brooch (2006 T243) pAs ID: LEIC-9C94D1
Found by Mr W Gemmell while metal-detecting in
February 2005; disclaimed, returned to finder.
R HOBBS & W SCOTT
102. Fulbeck, Lincolnshire: Roman copper-alloy
greyhound brooch (2005 T375)
pAs ID: sWyoR-bFE1C5
Found by Mr M Rossi while metal-detecting in
September 2005; not Treasure, returned to finder and
purchased by The Collection, Lincoln, see PAS 05/06
report p48 for full entry.
R JACKSON
103. broughton, North Lincolnshire: Roman silvergilt
trumpet brooch fragment (2005 T88)
pAs ID: sWyoR-AF7915
Found by Mr J Godley while metal-detecting in January
2005; disclaimed, returned to finder.
R HOBBS
58 ROMAN ROMAN 59