Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds

Fig 39 Bone armlet (1:1)
Fig 40 Early copper-alloy armlets (1:1)
1598 Fig 41 SF BUC 1549, H377 G537. Grave deposit. Period 2.
Internal diameter oval, 40.0 by 49.0mm; circular section,
thickness 2.5 mm. Twisted expanding clasp.
1601 Fig 41 SF IRB 47(C), F41. Grave deposit in 3rd- to 4thcentury
ihhumation. Internal diameter oval, 54.0 by
60.0mm; circular section, thickness 2.0mm. Twisted
expanding clasp.
1602 Fig 41 SF IRB 102(C), F92. Grave deposit in 3rd- to 4thcentury
inhumation. In fragments, internal diameter
54.5 mm; lozenge-shaped section, twisted, thickness
2.0mm. Decorative spiral above a hook-and-eye clasp.
Cable (Fig 41; 1604-1636)
a) two strands
1610 Fig 41 SF BUC 13(C), A7 G1. Grave deposit. Period 2.
Internal diameter oval, 34.0 by 41.0mm; circular section
strand with a thin rectangular section strand, plated with
?white metal, wrapped round it. Total thickness 1.5mm.
Twisted expanding clasp. A copper-alloy bell with an iron
clapper (1808) and an annular dark blue glass bead with
marvered mid blue trail (548) are threaded onto the armlet.
1611 Fig 41 SF BUC 3(C), A8 G1. Grave deposit. Period 2. Internal
diameter 33.5 mm; two oval section strands, total thickness
4.0mm. This armlet appears to have been cut down from a
larger one. The circumference is regular, but one end has
been cut or broken off. At the other end is a hook.
1613 Fig 41 SF BUC 323(C), B571 G109. Grave deposit. Period 2.
Internal diameter oval, 36.0 by 41.5mm; two strands of Dshaped
section, tapering from 4.5 to 3.0mm thick.
Penannular, with bead-and-reel decorated caps soldered to
the terminals.
38
b) three strands
1628 Fig 41 SF BUC 1(C), A8 G1. Grave deposit. Period 2. In
fragments, internal diameter oval, 42.5 by 50.0mm; three
circular section strands, total thickness 3.0mm. Double
hook clasp.
c) four strands
1633 Fig 41 SF LWC 637(C), B239. Medieval. Fragment, four
circular section strands, tapering from 6.0 to 4.5 mm thick.
Plain (Fig 42; 1637-1651)
1640 Fig 42 SF BUC 3(C), A8 G1. Grave deposit. Period 2. Large
?earring used as a child's armlet. Internal diameter
29.0mm; D-shaped to circular section, tapering from 3.0 to
1.5 mm. Penannular. The tapering section has been crudely
produced by soldering a strip of metal to about 2
/ 3 of the
circumference of an originally simple ring.
1643 Fig 42 SF BUC 69(C), A356 G24. Grave deposit. Period 2.
Internal diameter oval, 32.0 by 38.0mm; oval section,
tapering from 2.5 to 1.0mm thick and from 3.5 to 2.0mm
high. Double hook clasp.
1644 Fig 42 SF BUC 348(C), B770 G126. Grave deposit. Period 1.
Internal diameter oval, 53.0 by 60.0mm; oval section,
thickness 3.0mm, height 3.5mm. Penannular.
1650 Fig 42 SF BUC 1565, H403 G519. Grave deposit. Period 2.
Internal diameter oval, 36.0 by 44.0mm; oval section,
tapering from 5.5 to 2.0mm thick, and from 8.0 to 2.5 mm
high. Twisted expanding clasp.
1651 Fig 42 SF IRB 42(C), F41. Grave deposit in 3rd- to 4thcentury
inhumation. Internal diameter oval, 55.0 by*
65.0mm; oval section, tapering from 5.0 to 3.5mm thick,
6.0mm high. Damaged hook-and-eye clasp.
Notched, toothed, crenellated (Fig 43; 1652-
1671)
a) alternating notches
1653 Fig 43 SF BUC 6(C), A8 G1. Grave deposit. Period 2. Internal
diameter 41.0mm; rectangular section, thickness 2.0mm,
height 3.5mm. The decoration consists of broad shallow
alternating notches, emphasised by thin scored oblique
lines. This armlet has been cut down from a larger one.
1654 Fig 43 SF BUC 213(C), B309 G69. Grave deposit. Period 2.
One of a pair with 1655. Internal diameter 62.5 mm;
rectangular section, thickness 2.0mm, height 1 5mm. The
two ends are joined by a soldered lap joint, now sprung
apart. Irregular alternating notches on the upper and lower
outside edges have produced a degenerate continuous wave
decoration. Similar armlets come from Shakenoak,
Oxfordshire (Brodribb et al 1971b, fig 48, 73, 77) and
Portchester, Hampshire (Cunliffe 1975, fig 112, 41), all
dated from the late 3rd century.