Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds

of the fittings. Some of these problems can be
overcome. For example, the irregular number of
fittings seems to be in one case caused by a repair to
the box. That is, the use of a rectangular plate and a
stud to imitate a lobate fitting on the top right hand
side of the front of the box. Other problems remain
insoluble. It has proved impossible to formulate a
clear picture of the positions of the pieces belonging
to the lock mechanism.
Only the positions of the copper-alloy fittings from the
front of the box shown on the site plans and
photographs have been reconstructed. The iron
braces 2201, 2202 and 2205 have not been shown.
All were probably used at the rear of the box, but
whether to hold together the back and bottom boards
or the back and side boards is uncertain. The loop
hinges were undoubtedly fitted so that the strap on
the lid lay inside the box, and the strap on the back
board lay outside. The nails from the upper strap
would have been visible on the lid, probably
countersunk, but have not been shown in Fig 91. 7
There is very little evidence for the joints used in the
construction of the box. One site plan shows a
tapering patch of end grain wood exposed on the front
board after removal of a winged lobate fitting. This
cannot be seen on a photograph of the same area, and
has not survived on the reverse of the mount. Other
graining planned, photographed and visibly surviving
from the front board is all longitudinal so an
explanation cannot be sought in having a front board
of exposed end grain. While the identification of this
patch of end grain is suspect, the use of dovetail joints
on a box of this kind would not be unexpected. The
chest from the Bradwell villa had partly mitred, partly
dove-tailed joints (Keepax and Robson 1978, 35-40).
Also, the fittings and nails from the Butt Road box are
few in number when the joints at the back are
considered, and the winged lobate mounts would
Fig 92 Fittings from the second Butt Road box (1:1 j
88
seem to be employed for decorative, rather than
practical, reasons. Their side pieces are too short to
serve as effective clamps. The use of strong joints
which could give some rigidity to the box without
recourse to nails or braces would therefore be of
major importance. The widest part of the planned
patch of end grain is approximately 20.0mm across.
If, as seems likely, this indicates the thickness of the
wood (ibid, 38), then a suggested thickness of
20.0 mm for the lid would seem to be appropriate. By
analogy with the lid, all the boards may have been
20.0mm thick. The size of the box as shown in Fig 91
is purely conjectural.
SECOND BUTT ROAD BOX (Fig 92; 2214-
2222)
A second box was found deposited in an east-west
oriented grave (G519) at Butt Road. The evidence for
this box consists of four copper-alloy corner braces
(2214-7) which were found in two sets of two at one
edge of a group of grave goods which lay on a patch of
dark-stained earth. Also probably connected with the
box are fragments of other copper-alloy strips,
unfortunately with no apparent means of attachment
(2218-2221), and an iron plate (2222). As no hinges
appear to have survived, it is possible that the box had
a simple unhinged lid.
2214 Fig 92 SF BUC 1559, H396 G519. One of four comer braces.
Length of long side 26.0 mm, length of short side 9.0 mm,
width 4.5mm. Average length of nails 8.0mm.
2222 Fig 92 SF BUC 1 577, H395 G519. An iron plate with one end
folded back on itself. Adhering to this fold and to the lower
face of the plate are fragments of iron-impregnated wood.
The grain of the wood all seems to run in the same direction
across the width of the plate. There are at least four small
nails or rivets in the main body of the plate, one at each
corner. The two along the line of the fold are just outside its
edge. Three other nails are distinguishable in the vertical
side of the fold. As the fold is a complete return, it would
seem that it was fixed to only one piece of wood, and thus the