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Description: | Cast copper alloy fragment from a key (handle) of Roman date (50-300AD). The fragment consists of the junction between the iron shank and the handle; as well as part of the ornamental openwork handle. The key fragment is irregular in plan and profile. The junction with the iron shaft is sub rectangular in both plan and profile. The lower part of this junction is broken and corroded. Each of the four faces of the junction box are decorated with a series of three horizontal cast bands. Some of the decoration is encased in orange corrosion. This junction is presumably hollow and the key shank would have fitted within the copper alloy handle. Above this junction is the handle which is incomplete and abraded. The design is that of a cast openwork handle with two irregular oval (tear-drop shaped) holes. The design of the handle can be described best as being amphora shaped.
The key is a mid ?? light brown green colour with an even but abraded (slightly powdery) patina. The abrasion has removed some of the decoration present and has also distorted the outline of the openwork. There are a number of parallels for this style of key and similar keys have been found at South Shields (Allison-Jones and Miket: 1984 page 142 catalogue number 344 and 347).
The key handle measures: 28.3mm length, 20.6mm width, is 7.1mm, and weighs 6.69 grams. | 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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