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Description: | A complete copper-alloy cosmetic mortar. This mortar has a crescent shaped bow, measuring 69.40mm in length, 7.07mm in width and 8.92mm in depth. The bow has a central longitudinal groove, which is worn and 1.73mm in depth, at its deepest point. It has an end loop, projecting from the underside of the terminal of the bow, measuring 12mm by 8mm externally, the circular perforation, which is worn on its lower inside face measures 5.29mm in diameter. Faint incised lines, possibly zigzags can be seen near to the loop, these may have continued along the bow but it is now too worn to see any further evidence of incised decoration. The other terminal is in the form of a worn animals head, the head is delicate with a tapering snout, with small crescent shaped ears behind the head. On one side of the head a small circular indentation can be seen which is likely to represent the eye. Very faint diagonal grooves can also be seen on the underside of the jaw. Cosmetic mortars are unique to Romano Britain, only one example has been found outside Britain in Northern France. They are believed to have been used in the late Iron Age and Roman period to grind small quantities of powder or cosmetics. They have an association with fertility due to their crescent shaped bow and the occurrance of animal heads, sometimes both male and female heads are represented at either terminal. This is a lovely example in good condition despite its wear.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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