Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds

semicircles of two concentric grooves round a central dot on
the inmost groove of the outer set. The dots on this fragment
are not as deeply impressed as those on 2022, but were
clearly made after the groove.
Shale vessels (Fig 75; 2024-2028). Five fragments
of shale vessels have been found, of which only one is
sufficiently well-preserved to enable the diameter of
the vessel to be estimated.
2024 Fig 75 SF LWC 4221(C), J1635 F571. Slot. Period 4a. Badly
split and distorted rim sherd from a ?bowl. The outer face is
bevelled up to the top of the rim. The sherd is 59.0 mm high,
6.0mm thick. There are faint traces of shallow grooves on
the outer face. These are probably tool marks rather than
decoration.
2027 Fig 75 SF BKC 4102(C), J445 F281. Pit. Periods 3/4/5a?
Distorted rim sherd of a large shale platter (or tray), with a
simple rounded rim on a low wall (6.0mm internally). The
base is splitting, but appears to thicken towards the centre of
the platter. Maximum diameter approximately 46.0mm.
2028 Fig 75 SF BUC 137(C), A580 F152. Ditch. Period 1. Sherd
from a shale bowl. Thickness 5.0mm.
Copper-alloy vessels (Fig 76; 2029-2051)
2029 Fig 76 SF LWC 1246(C), B411 F147. Pit with burnt edges.
Period 5. Fragments of the upper section of a colander with a
simple lip. The thin wall is perforated with small punched
dots arranged in a continuous swastika design surmounted
by two horizontal rows of holes. The vessel has broken up
along the lines of holes. See Szabó 1980, fig 47.4 for a more
complete colander with simpler punched design. Surviving
height 58.5mm. Diameter 150.5mm.
2030 Fig 76 SF LWC 3266(C), J985. Demolition levelling debris.
Period 2 demolition. Distorted rim sherd from a ?bowl. The
rim is folded over to within a millimetre of the wall of the
vessel.
2031 Fig 76 SF LWC 3415(C), J1174. Gravel courtyard. Period 2.
Rim sherd from a shallow bowl. The vessel is decorated
round the rim with a frieze in relief of broad tongue-shaped
leaves with raised outer edge and central rib backed by
narrow leaves. There is a row of raised dots below the
leaves. The simple rim is grooved. Diameter 160.0mm.
2034 Fig 76 SF BKC 3787(C), K605 L142. Dump. Period 4c. Rim
sherd from a large bowl. The vessel has a thin wall with a
thick beaded rim projecting internally. Diameter 280.0mm.
2035 Fig 76 SF BKC 331 (C), A81 L11. Town ditch (F19) fill. Post-
Roman. ?Vessel handle in the shape of a swan's head with
elaborate grooving round the eyes and over the crown to
simulate plumage. The handle seems to have been cast in
one with the vessel, probably a bowl. A fragment of grooved
thin vessel wall is attached to the handle. Length 52.0mm.
(Possibly not from a vessel, see 2037.)
2036 Fig 76 SF BKC 3012(C), J35 L4. Dump. Period 5b. Swan's
head handle with eyes, nostrils, serrated beak and
rudimentary 'ears'. The head rises from a three-petalled
'flower' which runs down to a rectangular section shank.
The handle seems to have been fitted to the vessel by
inserting the shank into a socket and soldering it in position.
Length 53.0mm.
2037 Fig 76 SF BKC 3084(C), J69 L1. Site clearance. Corroded
swan's head handle. Traces of the eyes and serrated beak
are visible. Possibly not from a vessel but from a cart fitting
(Fig 109, 2545; Webster 1958, fig 3, 37). The fragment of
wall attached to the ?handle is much thicker than that of
2035. Length 49.5 mm.
2039 Fig 76 SF BKC 1698(C), E934 L271. Charcoal-rich layer
associated with metal-working. Period 1 b. Corroded handle
from a shallow bowl. Similar handles were found in Period 6
contexts at Sheepen (Hawkes and Hull 1947, 332) and in an
early to mid 2nd-century grave at Bingen (Como 1925, Abb
1, 1-6). See Fig 76, 2044 for the method of attachment.
Length 70.5 mm.
2040 Fig 76 SF BKC 2187, G1. Site cleaning. Unstratified.
Escutcheon from a large kettle or bucket (Waugh and
Goodburn 1972, fig 41, 132; ORL 8, 93, fig 13). The kettle Fig 75 Sherds from shale vessels (7:2)
71
Fig 74 Shale tray fragments (1:2)