Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds

TOOLS
Turf-cutter (Fig 155; 4232)
4232 Fig 155 SF BKC 4895, T183 F79. Post pit? Period 3. An iron
turf-cutter head. For a description of the use of this tool see
Webster 1969a, 177. Compared with other examples this
head is rather small (ibid) but is possibly still a military tool.
The handle is socketed. Surviving length 98.0mm, width
91,5mm.
CAVALRY HARNESS PENDANTS (Fig 156;
4233-4234)
For an illustration of a complete set of harness fittings
from Doorwerth see ibid, pl 18.
4233 Fig 156 SF BKC 4597, T117. Unstratified. A ?heart-shaped
pendant, corroded and in three fragments (Webster 1958,
fig 6,144). There is a dome-headed rivet in the centre of the
pendant, and a poorly-made bud terminal which twists off
the central axis. The suspension loop is also uneven. Length
47.5mm, probably width 57.0mm.
EQUIPMENT USUALLY DATED TO THE
SECOND AND/OR THIRD CENTURIES
ARMOUR
Copper-alloy pendants, mounts and other fittings
(Fig 157; 4235-4241)
4235 Fig 157 SF LWC 2936(C), J704. Period 4. A stud with
concentric convex mouldings on the head and a flat shaft.
Similar to Oldenstein 1976, Taf 48, 530, which is one of a
group of fittings described as for straps from either auxiliary
uniform or horse harness, and dated to the second half of the
2nd or the first half of the 3rd century (ibid, 172). Diameter
17.0mm. The shaft is bent, length approximately 18.0mm.
4236 Fig 157 SF BKC 52(C), A38 L4. Topsoil and town ditch (F19)
fill. Post-Roman. A strap-end with suspension loop and rivet
for attachment, probably from a military apron. The end of
the fitting is missing. Openwork strap-ends show
considerable individuality in the exact detail of their design
(ibid, Taf 41). The rivet on the reverse is made of two pieces,
a projection from the underside of the strap-end cast in one
with it and a thick pierced ring riveted to the end of the
projection. Surviving length 35.0mm, width 11.0mm.
4237 Fig 157 SF BKC 79(C), A41 F9. Pit. Post-Roman. A damaged
pelta-shaped mount. One arm and the tip of the central stem
are missing. There is a large rivet at the lower edge on the
underside, which probably indicates that there was
originally a second rivet at the tip of the stem (ibid, Taf 53,
629). Length 15.5mm, probable width 27.0mm.
4238 Fig 157 SF BKC 3117(C), J81 L23. Dump. Periods 5c/6. An
elliptical mount with two rivets on the underside. One end is
missing. The fitting is now curved but would originally have
been flat. Oldenstein points out that similar pieces come
only from Zugmantel and Saalburg (ibid, 189), suggesting a
local production centre based in or near the area of these
forts, and gives a date range starting after the middle of the
2nd century. Surviving length 30.0mm, width 13.0mm.
4239 Fig 157 SF BKC 3916(C), M26. Probably Periods 3/4-6. A
fitting for which no exact parallel has been found, but which
seems to be related to a set of smaller belt-fittings from
Chichester, West Sussex (Down and Rule 1971, fig 5.18,
251p) and other fittings from the Continent (Oldenstein
1976, Taf 62, 780-3, 791). The mount is rectangular, with a
sunken rectangular centre, a suspension loop on one side
(for a object to be suspended from the fitting), and with a bud
and leaves terminal at one end. The other end shows signs
of another terminal having been broken off. The bud and
leaves design could have derived from a debased pelta (ibid,
Taf 62, 783, 786). The mount has a convex transverse
section, hollow on the underside. There is a rivet at each end
of the rectangle. The suspension loop perhaps held a ring,
the forerunner of the rings found with rosette attachments
136
Fig 155 Spear head, ballista bolt-head, arid turf-cutter (1:2)
Fig 156 Cavalry harness pendant (1:1)