Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds

Fig 65 Spoon-probes (1:1)
damaged. Length 127.5mm, length of spoon 27.0mm,
length of probe 26.0mm. The octagonal-section shaft above
the spoon has decorative moulding similar to that of 1929.
1932 Fig 65 SF MRC 70(C), 112 F52. Pit. Approximately early 2nd
century. Slightly bent. One end of the instrument is missing.
It would almost certainly have developed into a probe.
Length (incomplete) 152.5 mm, length of spoon 38.5 mm. At
the spoon end of the shaft is a length of bead-, double-reel-,
and spool moulding. At the ?probe end is a short length of
inset bead-and-reel moulding.
PROBES
Fragments of six probes (1933-1938) were found. In
five cases not enough of the shaft remained to
determine if the probe were part of a double-ended
instrument or not. The sixth was probably doubleended
as a considerable length of shaft remained and
the piece had been broken at a bead-and-reel
moulding. The uses of probes are discussed under
spoon-probes (see above). Not illustrated; in
microfiche catalogue.
61
MISCELLANEOUS TOILET INSTRUMENTS
(Fig 66; 1939-1940)
Both are of copper alloy.
1939 Fig 66 SF BKC 372(C), A91 L4. Topsoil and town ditch (F19)
fill. Post-Roman. A sickle-shaped instrument with a
suspension loop. The tip is missing. Length 50.0mm. As
neither edge of the blade is sharp, the tip was presumably
the functional part. Possibly used as a toothpick, or as a nailcleaner
(cf Waugh and Goodburn 1972, fig 35, 76; Wheeler
1930, pl 38, 10).
1940 Fig 66 SF BKC 5063(C), V88. Period 3 or 4? Bent. A pin-like
instrument with worn suspension loop above moulding of a
hatched cylinder and a biconical bead. The shaft is octagonal
in section. Length 116.0 mm. Possibly used as a pick of some
kind.
TOILET SETS (Fig 67; 1941-1945)
All the instruments are of copper alloy.
1941 Fig 67 SF BKC 2106(C), G9. Modern? 1) Nail-cleanerof Type
2b, with stylised leaf-shaped blade; length 56.5 mm. 2) File,
the reverse side of the blade is serrated; length 57.0mm.
Both pieces have an enamelled motif above the blade of an