Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds

and Minerva (Toynbee 1964, 79). It may be no coincidence
that a Mercury (Fig 188) and figurines of two of his
associated animals (4273. 4274) derive from a site which
contained two temples (Crummy 1980, 266-72).
4275 Fig 173 SF BKC 4180, N152. Latest Roman. Period 6. A
small copper-alloy three-toed foot and part of a leg. There
was probably a fourth toe at the rear of the foot. Probably
therefore, from a figurine of a bird. Length 11.0mm
4276 Fig 174 SF BKC 4306, N219 F75. Timber-lined drain.
Backfilled late Period 5b2 or early 6. A pipeclay figurine of a
bull. Length 103.0mm, maximum height approximately
82.0mm. The front legs and the lower part of the back legs
are missing. The horns have been broken off. The animal has
a well developed and muscular neck and long pendulous
dewlap. The tail is long and plumed. The beast is well
designed and life-like, almost noble, in contrast to the threehorned
bull from Colchester with its stiff stance and staring
eyes (Green 1976, pl 19, a, b). The figurine could possibly be
from the same mould as a rather more damaged but
seemingly identical bull illustrated by Rouvier-Jeanlin
(1972, 1029). The piece is certainly an import from Central
Gaul dated to the 1st or early 2nd century. The bull is a
symbol of strength and fertility (Green 1976, 32).
4277 Fig 175 SF BUC 777(C), C1704 G444. Grave fill. Period 2. A
crouching jet hare, with the front of the body missing.
Length 72.0mm, height 43.0mm. The fur of the animal is
depicted by delicately incised overlapping semicircles
arranged like scales, running upwards from the base
towards the spine There are slight wavy lines on and
between the ears, and on the scut. The animal is resting on a
plain rectangular base. The underside of the figure has been
hollowed out quite roughly and the hollow is surrounded by
a decorative incised border of triangles filled with hachuring
set between two parallel lines. Beyond this border atthe tail
end five letters have been lightly scored: ABC M with a
second C above the M (Hassall 1980, 410, no 25). The hare
Fig 175 Fragment of a jet hare (1:1)
144
Fig 174 Bull figurine (1:2)