Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds

single ring-and-dot motifs also linked by grooves, with a
similar but larger row along the outer edge of each ansa.
Length 67.0mm, width 26.0mm, thickness 2.0mm. It is
uncertain how far the linking of circles to give the
impression of continuous wave-crest ornament is merely
the result of the restrictions of decoration possible on thin
bone inlay and whether or not it is a product of a tradition of
spiral design based in Celtic art. Pieces with similar designs
are principally late Roman in date. 5
2157 Fig 87 SF BKC 2816(C), H302 L13. Dump. Period 5b (end)
and possibly into 5c and 6. A piece of stepped inlay with two
peg holes. Similar to 2155 but without the single step on the
side. Also probably horse bone. Length 62.5 mm, width
14.0mm, maximum thickness 2.5mm.
2158 Fig 87 SF BKC 2857(C), H335 (F165). Settlement. Period 5c.
A piece similar to 2155 and 2157 with two peg holes. Also
probably horse bone. Length 64.5mm, width 19.0mm,
maximum thickness 4.5 mm. The similarity between 2155,
2157 and 2158 in both design and context may indicate
that they are from the same ?box.
2159 Fig 87 SF BKC 4011(C), N32 L3. Topsoil. Period 6. Possibly
an offcut from a strip of inlay, or an unfinished piece. The
former is more likely. One end has two parallel grooves
which peter out towards the centre. The ?mitred edge at the
end with the grooves has been partly sawn through and then
broken. The other end is roughly cut. Both surfaces have
saw marks. Maximum length 57.5mm, width 10.0mm,
thickness 2.0mm.
2160 Fig 87 SF BKC 5435, V736 L11. Dump. Late Period 5. Part of
a bone plaque showing the flexed right leg of a figure facing
left. The foot rests on a slightly moulded and grooved base.
The bottom of the base has broken across a hole drilled to
take a peg for attaching the plaque to a background of some
kind. This is probably a piece of decorative inlay for furniture
(Toynbee 1964, 361). Height 43.0mm.
2161 Fig 88 SF LWC 3945, R191. Charcoal. Period 2a. A fragment
of possible inlay, convex in section, with four ?peg holes.
Length 86.0mm.
2162 Fig 88 SF BKC 5266, V598 F8/F130. Ditch. Period 4. A
length of ?possible inlay with two peg holes. Similar to
2161. Length 71.0mm, width 14.5mm. A third hole may
have been started between the two completed perforations.
Ring-keys (Fig 89; 2163-2170). Ring-keys
generally belonged to small boxes or caskets of
personal possessions rather than doors or cupboards
and have therefore been placed in this category. A
ring-key is still in the lock of the first Butt Road box
(Fig 90). It may be that the two similar keys with flat
wards, 2163 and 2168, belong to the early Roman
period, while the rotary keys of standard form are 3rdor
4th-century in date.
2163 Fig 89 SF BKC 1495(C), E751 L183. Levelling. Period 2. Key
with flat ward on a thin ring of D-shaped section. Similar to
one from the Jewry Wall (Kenyon 1948, fig 86, 12). Internal
diameter of ring 18.0mm.
2164 Fig 89 SF BKC 2222(C), G129 F21. Slot for ground-plate.
Period 5c. Rotary key on a thick slightly D-shaped section
ring. The flat front panel is highlighted by two oblique facets
separated by a groove. The wards are very slight. Internal
diameter of ring 17.0mm.
2165 Fig 89 SF BKC 2422(C), G375. Topsoil. Period 5c. Damaged
rotary key on a thick crude ring of varying section. Minimum
internal diameter of ring 13.5 mm.
2168 Fig 89 SF BKC 4702(C), T414 F2? Period 5b (or c)? Key on a
thin ring of D-shaped section, in two pieces. Internal
diameter of ring 19.0mm.
2169 Fig 89 SF BUC 99(C), A465 G35. Grave fill. Period 2. Rotary
key on thick D-shaped section ring. There is a tall front panel
with notched and faceted decoration. Internal diameter of
ring 17.5mm.
2170 Fig 89 SF BUC 100(C), A475 G25. Grave fill. Period 2. Rotary
key on a thick ring of varying section. The ring appears to
84
Fig 88 Bone Pnlay (1:1)
Fig 89 Ring-keys (1:1)