Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds

Copper-alloy. Complete. Bent. Length approximately
106.5mm. Maximum width 4.0mm.
1982 Fig 70 SF BKC 4421(C), N437 F122. Clay-lined pit. Period
5b2. Bone. Complete. Length 116.0mm. Maximum width
5.0mm.
b) figure-of-eight eye
1986 Fig 70 SF BKC 3160(C), J100 F18. Slot. Period 5b. Bone. The
point is missing. Length 59.0mm. Maximum width 4.0mm.
Type 3 (Fig 70; 1991-1995). Needles with a groove
above and below the eye. All Type 3 needles are of
copper alloy, and are thinner, resembling modern
needles more closely, than both the preceding types.
Only five examples are catalogued here, but all derive
from 3rd- and 4th-century contexts, and a late Roman
date for the type agrees with evidence from other
sites (eg ibid, fig 64, 230, 231). Similar needles have
been found in post-Roman contexts on sites in
Colchester and not all may necessarily be residual, as
the type seems to recur in the post-medieval period.
There is no apparent use for the groove below the eye.
It probably marked the line on which the eye should
be made. Above the eye the groove could possibly
serve to carry the thread so that the maximum
thickness of the head was not increased. At least
three of the five examples have had the eye cut
through when cold. Only one (Fig 70, 1993) appears
to have had the eye cast in the mould.
1991 Fig 70 SF LWC 1153(C), B634 F225. Pit. Period5. Complete.
Length 75.5mm. Maximum width 3.0mm. There are
marked striations along the groove, probably tool marks
from cutting the groove and eye.
1993 Fig 70 SF BKC 4379(C), N372 F111. Pit. Period 5b1.
Complete. Length 99.5mm. Maximum width 1.5mm. The
eye was probably cast in the mould.
NETTING NEEDLE (Fig 70, 1996)
The standard form of netting needle has a pair of
forked prongs at each end of the shaft. The pairs are
set at right angles to each other. J P Wild (1970a, 73)
puts forward the hypothesis that in the Roman period
netting needles were used for band-weaving rather
than netting.
1996 Fig 70 SF BKC 4167, N105. Period 5 or 6. Copper-alloy. One
pair of prongs is missing as well as the tip of one point of the
other pair. Length 125.5 mm.
SPINDLEWHORLS (Fig 71; 1997-2005)
No spindles were found, and only a few spindlewhorls
have been identified. All but one are made from
sherds of coarse pottery. Many pierced pottery
roundels were recovered, but only eight are
considered to be spindlewhorls. The function of the
remainder (2463-2482) is discussed on p 94.
Four criteria were applied to the pierced roundels to
determine which, if any, might have been used as
spindlewhorls. First, that the perforation should be a
minimum of 5.0 mm in diameter to enable a spindle to
be inserted (ibid, 32). Second, that the diameter and
thickness should be even and the sides smooth; and
third, that the perforation should be central. These
last two factors govern the stability of the rotation of
the spindle, and thereby the quality of the thread
produced. Fourth, that the whorl should be no larger
67
than 50.0mm in diameter (ibid, 33; but see Fig 71,
2003). Pieces f ulf illing the first three criteria but of an
impracticable diameter were thus extracted. It is
unfortunately possible that the application of these
somewhat arbitrary standards has resulted in failure
to identify some whorls.
1997 Fig 71 SF LWC 424, B145. Cellar (F70) backfill,
contaminated. Period 5+. The diameter is slightly uneven,
34.0 by 35.0mm, but the sides are very smooth and the
perforation well worn. Slightly chipped. Diameter of
perforation 5.0mm. Upper surface slightly convex,
maximum thickness 6.5 mm. Black burnished ware. 2ndcentury
or later.
2001 Fig 71 SF BKC 1653, D301 (F20). Tile scatter in town ditch.
Anglo-Saxon. Damaged. Diameter 38.0mm, thickness
10.0 mm. Made from the base of a colour-coat beaker. The
internal face of the base has been ground flat so that all
traces of slip have been removed. The sides of the whorl
have been rubbed in places. The perforation is well worn,
diameter 7.0mm. 3rd- to 4th-century.
2002 Fig 71 SF BKC 2680(C), H14 L2. Topsoil. Post-Roman. Shale.
Slightly damaged and laminated. Diameter 38.5 mm,
thickness 14.5 mm. Biconical in section, with a narrow
groove on each flat face approximately 6.0mm from the
perforation, which is 7.0 mm in diameter. This object would
have been produced on a lathe, and the centre marks
removed by the drilling of the perforation. Usually dated to
the late 3rd century (Lawson 1976, 272).
2003 Fig 71 SF MID 562, B2089 F685. Pit. Post-medieval to
modern. Fragment. Diameter approximately 58.0mm,
thickness 9.5 mm. The perforation is well worn, diameter
8.5 mm. Black burnished ware. 2nd-century or later.
2005 Fig 71 SF COC 151, 722 L196. Floor. Period 3. Slightly
damaged. Diameter 37.5mm, thickness 7.0mm. The sides
are very smooth and rounded. One part of the face is very
smooth, possibly from constant handling at that spot. The
perforation is only slightly worn, diameter 5.0mm. Grey
ware. Roman.
Fig 71 Spindlewhorls (1:2)
WEAVING TABLETS (Fig72; 2006-2007)
Triangular or rectangular bone or bronze tablets
pierced at each corner were used in the weaving of
braid. A warp thread was passed through each hole
and fixed in a frame. The number of tablets used