Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds

Fig 178 Model (?votive) objects (1:1)
146
Fig 179 Metal letters (1:1)
suspension loop in the centre of the convex side. Length
61.5mm.
4288 Fig 180 SF BUC 607(C), C1228. Periods 1-2. A barnacle'
pendant of U- to V-shaped section with central worn
suspension loop. One terminal is marked by roughly cut
grooves and a convex bead, possibly supposed to represent a
phallus. The other shows inverted bull's horns with two
diagonal slashes marking the centre, perhaps to indicate a
head. Without these slashes the horns could be interpreted
as a crescent moon. On both sides of the pendant the body to
each side of the suspension loop bears three diagonal
grooves. Length 69.0mm.
There is a considerable bibliography relating to socalled
'barnacle' pendants. It has been suggested
(Smith 1918, 54-63) that these pendants are in some
way derived from the metal elements (barnacles) on a
cavesson noseband. This seems to be unlikely. The
elements used to embellish the terminals of these
amulets are the symbols of fertility or strength. Phalli,
crescent moons or bull's horns, and realistically or
roughly executed bull's heads are found in several
combinations (Hull 1930, 41-3). None of these
elements suggests any connection with horses.
Moreover, the hollow underside of these amulets
probably served some purpose for which no
explanation has yet been offered.
A 1st-century date seems likely for both these
amulets, though the range for plain crescent
pendants as 4287 is less well established. Amulets
as 4288 may belong to a British rather than a Roman
tradition, though the use of the triangle motif in
enamelling is typically Roman. A similar example is in
the Colchester and Essex Museum (ibid, pl 12, A2). A
late 1st- or 2nd-century box burial (Group 228) at
Chichester contained two amulets, one similar to
4287, and one to 4288 (Down and Rule 1971, fig
5.18, 228v, 228w). The latter has six triangles below
the suspension loop, though no mention is made of
enamelling.
IRON COFFIN FITTINGS FROM BUTT
ROAD (Fig 181; 4289-4296)
The Lankhills cemetery site (Winchester, Hampshire)
yielded coffin-fittings from only four graves out of the
473 excavated (Clarke 1979, 336). These graves
produced groups of twelve, eight, five and two fittings