Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds

laminated armour). There are copper-alloy rivets on
the military dagger scabbard (Fig 154). Though
military equipment illustrates clearly the use of such
rivets, they were by no means confined to arms and
armour. All the examples catalogued here are of
copper alloy.
4031 Fig 123 SF BKC 2769(C), H228 F68. Hearth over pit. Period
5c. A double-headed rivet. Each head has a marginal groove
and central small hollow. To enable this rivet to befitted one
head, presumably the one now detached, must have been
made with a central hole which passed over the shaft of the
other head and was fixed by riveting the shaft. However, the
shaft fits neatly to the head and there seems to be no double
thickness of metal. Diameter of heads 12.0mm, length
7.5 mm.
4033 Fig 123 SF BKC 4737, T522. Period 1 (or 2). A flat-headed
rivet. Diameter of head 8.0mm, length 3.0mm.
4034 Fig 123 SF BUC 809(C), C1739 F62. Ditch. Period 1. A
conical-headed rivet. Diameter of head 7.5mm, length
9.0mm.
Fig 123 Rivets (1:1)
BOSSES
The term boss has here been applied only to hollow
convex objects with no central shaft, though strictly a
boss is 'a metal stud used for ornament' (OED sub
'boss'). Many bosses were attached to a metal surface
by a Plead solder (cf the lead-filled studs of the first
Butt Road box, 2179-82). Five hollow bosses are
listed here, of which one may have contained solder
which has fallen out. The method of attaching the
other four to a wood, leather, or metal surface is
uncertain. All are of copper alloy.
Bosses containing ?lead solder (Fig 124; 4035-
4046)
4036 Fig 124 SF LWC 3506, J1343 F465. Pit. Period 4? A
damaged boss with steep domed centre. This object may
have had a shaft which has become detached and may
therefore belong with the studs. Diameter approximately
17.0mm.
4037 Fig 124 SF LWC 3557(C), J1480. Make-up? Period 1 or 2. A
damaged low convex boss with concentric mouldings. This
piece may be military. Diameter approximately 25.0mm.
4044 Fig 124 SF BKC 5772, V1236 L146. Cultivated soil. Late
Period 5, possibly earlier. Either one boss with a head in two
layers, or two bosses corroded together. Each piece has a
slight upturned rim. Diameter 23.0mm.
4045 Fig 124 SF BUC 741, C1447 G411. Grave fill. Period 2. A
boss, 17.0mm in diameter. There is a rectangular slot in the
solder which may indicate that the piece originally had a
shaft.
Plain bosses (Fig 124; 4047-4056)
4049 Fig 124 SF LWC 3794, K511. Garden topsoil. Period 4b. A
slightly convex boss, part is missing. Diameter 27.0mm.
4052 Fig 124 SF BKC 1549(C), E823 L200. Make-up. Period 3b. A
large damaged boss with four lugs in the circumference.
Assuming that the object was symmetrical a further four
lugs can be postulated. Diameter 43.0mm.
119
Fig 124 Bosses (1:1)
4053 Fig 124 SF BKC4008, N51 L7. Dump. Period 6. A small boss,
diameter 13.0 mm.
DOUBLE-SPIKED LOOPS (Figs 125 and
126; 4057-4069)
Double-spiked loops have a looped head and either
straight-sided blades which are blunt-ended, or
blades tapering to a point. Their use is illustrated by
the drop-handle 2134 (Fig 85), where each curved
end of the handle passes through a double-spiked
loop. The blades of the loop would be set in the wood
of a drawer or box. All are of copper alloy except
where otherwise stated.
4059 Fig 125 SF LWC 3492(C), J1317. Dump or make-up. Period
1. Loop with tapering blades, the ends of which are
damaged. The slight distortion of the loop seems to indicate
considerable use of this piece: reuse rather than wear in one
position. Length 34.0 mm.
4061 Fig 125 SF BKC 1822(C), El 131 L319. Dump. Period 1b.
Loop with narrow tapered blades. The ends are missing but
were clearly pointed. The loop has a central moulding and
raised margins. Length 32.0mm.
4063 Fig 125 SF BKC 5205, V271 L46. Make-up? Period 5. A thin
loop in three pieces. The blades taper. Part of one blade is
missing. Length 27.0 mm.