Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds

Fig 19 Bone hairpins: Type 3 (1:1)
22
examples are complete, ranging in length from 52.5
to 111.0mm. Fourpins have definitely been repointed
at new lengths of 45.0, 49.0, 56.0 and 61.0mm. All
these examples and the fractured ones give the
impression of a type on average shorter than Types 1
and 2. Over two-thirds of Type 3 pins are quite
roughly finished. In some cases the shaft is smooth
and polished but the head is rough. In others both
shaft and head are uneven but polished. Most of the
well made and polished pins carry regular marks on
the head that were formed by turning the pin against
a hand-held blade. The remaining heads all show
facets, varying in size depending on the degree of
finish in each case.
Type 3 is by far the best represented bone pin at
Colchester, but the dates of its appearance and
termination are vague. The catalogue shows no pin in
a context dated before 150 and only a few in contexts
dated c 150-250, with the remainder that can be
dated deriving from deposits dated to the late 3rd to
4th century. On the evidence from Colchester,
therefore, a conservative starting date of c 200 can be
postulated, with the pin appearing to survive to the
end of the Roman period (although it is absent from
Portchester).
221 Fig 19 SF LWC 32, B23 F14. Boundary ditch. 17th century.
88.5 mm long. Tip broken off. Head A. The neck of the pin
between head and shaft is very thin and bears several deep
cuts.
243 Fig 19 SF LWC 2366, J357 (F20). Pit? 15th century +.
78.0mm long. Complete. Head A. The shaft is very crude and
has probably not been repointed. The head is elliptical in
section.
252 Fig 19 SF BKC 8(C), A9 L1. Town ditch (F30) fill. Anglo-
Saxon. 87.0mm long. Complete. Head A.
254 Fig 19 SF BKC 115(C), A43 L5. Topsoil and town ditch (Fl 6)
fill. Post-Roman. 45.0mm long. Tip broken off. Head C.
268 Fig 19 SF BKC 2292(C), G199 F190. Pit? Trench? Period 5c?
59.0 mm long. Tip broken off. Head B. There is a distinct line
at the neck.
275 Fig 19 SF BKC 2411(C), G375. Topsoil. Period 5c. 90.0mm
long. Complete. Head B. The knife marks running from the
lower part of the head give a twisted effect at the neck.
276 Fig 19 SF BKC 2409(C), G388 F11. Timber-lined drain.
Period 5c. 62.0 mm long. Tip broken off. Head A? The head is
small and very crude.
288 Fig 19 SF BKC 2830(C), H298 (F94+F167). Pits. Period 6.
102.5 mm long. Complete. Head B. The base of the head is
set in from the top of the shaft.
300 Fig 19 SF BKC 3866(C), M9. Mainly Periods 5 and 6 but could
include modern. 62.0mm long. Tip broken off. Head B. The
head is split. Both head and shaft are fairly crude.
309 Fig 19 SF BKC 4103(C), N83 L8. Dump. Period 6. 82.0mm
long. Complete. Head D. The head is fairly crude.
326 Fig 19 SF BKC 4642(C), T326 L67. Backfill of F25 cellar.
Period 5c. 79.5 mm long. Tip broken off. Head B. The base of
the head is set in from the top of the shaft.
330 Fig 19 SF BKC 5410, V727. Unstratified. 66.0mm long.
Complete. Head C. The base of the head is set in from the top
of the shaft.
Type 4. Pins with a faceted cuboid head (Fig 20;
356-394). The heads of Type 4 pins were fashioned
by sawing or carving a cuboid and then taking off each
corner so that five lozenge-shaped and eight
triangular facets were left. That this style of head
presented the maker with considerable problems is