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Description: | Fragment of a possible cast copper alloy tile comb of probable Roman date (43-410 AD). The fragment consists of the lower handle and the comb. In plan the tile comb resembles an inverted T. It measures 17.9mm in length, has a maximum width of 32.9mm, and is 3.4mm thick. It weighs 4.63 grams.
The lower handle is sub-rectangular in plan and flares towards the base where it meets the comb. It is sub-oval in cross section. The handle is broken just above the junction with the comb. The comb is broadly sub-rectangular in plan with the comb edge being the longest axis and set at right angles to the handle. The cross section is sub-rectangular. Where the lower handle expands (flares) and joins the body of the comb there is a slight rounded shoulder. Both of the angular edges have been badly eroded and so a true profile is difficult to achieve. The impression edge of the comb has suffered from abrasion. However, in places along its length, a series of small sub-triangular teeth survive. These teeth are rather small and short. They are arranged so that they tessellate and form a zig-zag wavy line.
The tile comb is a mid - light green colour with a broken and abraded patina which covers all surfaces. The stem of the handle is a recent break as it is unpatinated and relatively fresh. A small number of similar tile combs have been recorded in the West Midlands both by the Portable Antiquities Scheme (WMID3842 and WMID2802) and other local museums. A number of these have been published by Roger White (1997 A Roman Tile Comb from Hanley Hall, Shropshire; in CBA West Midlands Archaeology 40 pp 14-15 and 2007 Final Report on the Wroxeter Hinterland Project Volume 1 pp 194-198). Another tile comb similar to the one described here can be seen in G. De la Bedoyere Finds of Roman Britain (pp 58-59 fig 34b).
There is some doubt as to the item described above being a tile comb, hence it being recorded as a possible tile comb. The reason for this is the large amount of damage to both the impression edge and the patina. An alternative interpretation of this artefact is that it could be an 18th century pastry cutter or jigger. These have similar impression edges. A possible parallel for this interpretation can be seen in Gordon Bailey's: Detector Finds; 1997. p96 example 2. | Subjects: | Tile | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Reavill, Peter - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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