Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds

attachment was probably not particularly effective is
perhaps demonstrated by the fact that it ceased to be
used in or by the Flavian period.
i) plain (Fig 110; 2921 -2924). See also the iron blade with a small
fragment of one of these handles still attached (Fig 113, 2947).
2921 Fig 110 SF LWC 1209. B672 F158. Ditch. Period 1. A
complete bone handle with no trace of the iron tang. The
upper end has a narrow waist and the lower (blade) end is
pinched on the plane of the blade. Both upper and lower
slots are clearly seen in the illustration, in which the piece is
viewed from the side. The handle is made from a solid piece
of bone (possibly horse) and the hole for the tang bored
through. Regular striations from a drill bit can be seen on the
walls of the perforation. Length 76.5 mm, maximum width
13.5 mm. Oval section.
2922 Fig 110 SF BKC 1713(C), E1009 L320. Fill of slot (F299).
Period 2. A similar, slightly damaged, bone handle. The tang
survives in the handle and a fragment of the iron clip
survives in the groove in the upper end. Also made from a
solid piece of bone. Length 81.0mm, maximum width
approximately 15.0mm. Oval section.
ii) decorated (Fig 110; 2925-2926). See also the two-piece
handle Fig 111. 2934.
2925 Fig 110 SF BKC 669(C), C unstratified. A damaged bone
handle, part of one side has broken away, and the remainder
is cracked from the pressure of corroding iron. Most of the
pinched lower end has broken off. Both sides of the handle
are decorated with three longitudinal grooves. Surviving
length 66.5mm, maximum width 15.0mm. Oval section.
2926 Fig 110 SF BKC 3816(C), K639. Modern surface cleaning.
Most of a rectangular section handle with slightly concave
upper and lower faces, each with a raised central rib. The
lower pinched end is damaged, but the groove for the blade
is still visible. The tang survives in the handle, and part of a
corroded clip remains in the upper groove. There are two
small iron pins to one side of the midrib on one face. Length
74.0mm, section 8.5 by 14.5mm.
Fig 111 Two-piece bone and antler handles (1:1)
109
c) with incised decoration. These handles are
generally of 3rd- or 4th-century date.
i) bands of trellis decoration at each end (Fig 110; 2927-2929)
2929 Fig 110 SF BKC 2408(C), G389. Uncertain. Period 4 or 5. A
complete bone handle made from a metapodial. Most of the
length of the bone was used, thus giving the handle a
natural waist. The iron tang survives in the handle. Length
96.5mm, maximum width 23.0mm.
ii) ladder decoration (Fig 110; 2930-2931)
2930 Fig 110 SF BKC 5851, D401. Town ditch fill. Late Period 6 or
Anglo-Saxon. Fragment of a bone handle made from a
metapodial and with a natural waist as 2929. Each broad
face is decorated with incised zig-zag ladder decoration, two
ladders on the illustrated face, possibly three on the reverse.
There are traces of iron at the complete end, which may or
may not be the lower end. Length 82.5 mm, maximum width
26.5mm.
iii) chevron grooving (Fig 110; 2932)
2932 Fig 110 SF MID 767, A3006 F920. Stoke-pit of Period 3. A
complete waisted bone handle with a fragment of an iron
blade surviving at one end. The tang appears to run the
length of the handle. The section of the handle is
heptagonal, and each end is decorated with three parallel
grooves which pass alternately up and down on each face to
form chevrons. Because of the heptagonal section the
grooves have to follow one direction on two contiguous
sides to enable a continuous line to be formed. Probably
made from a metapodial. Length (without the blade)
94.5 mm, maximum width 18.5 mm.
Two-piece handles (Fig 111; 2933-2937). Only
individual examples have been recovered.
2933 Fig 111 SF LWC 896(C), A290. Dump or backfill of Period 1
ditch. Period 1 destruction or Period 2. A tapering bone
handle made from two rectangular section plates decorated
with a panel of converging grooves. The handle and tang are
fixed by six copper-alloy rivets. The plain band at the narrow