|
Date: |
|
Description: | Incomplete lid from a Roman seal box. This seal box lid is circular with straight sides. Around the edge of approximately half of the bottom of the lid are the remains of a flange, 90 degrees to the sides, which had a series of solid semicircular lugs, on the same plain, running around its perimeter, of which only two remain. The upper circle of the seal box is recessed for enamel, none of which now remains. There is a patch of creamy coloured coating in the recess that maybe the remains of degraded enamel, adhesive or simply evidence of corrosion, as there is also a patch of bright green corrosion within it. In the centre of the circle is a circular perforation that would have been invisible when the object was enamelled. The metal rim that surrounds the circle is decorated with transverse incised lines. The flange is also formed with a raised rim similarly decorated. It too is recessed for enamel, which again is entirely missing. Two small patches of very dark brown on the flange are presumed to be corrosion. When viewed on the underside, the straight sides of the lid now form a flat-bottomed circular recess, surrounded by the flange. A raised circular ?collar? surrounds the circular perforation. Directly beneath one of the peripheral lugs are two transverse pin bar lugs that still hold the corresponding lug from the bottom portion of the seal box. The iron pin that held the upper and lower lugs together is also evidenced from iron staining to either side of these lugs. The patina of the object is mostly brown with patches of mid green on the flange rim. Brighter green corrosion is visible on the reverse of the lid in the recess. Break edges are worn smooth and similarly patinated to the body of the object, suggesting damage occurred in antiquity.
The lid has a diameter of 16.01mm, with an additional 4.62mm being the flange. It is 3.68mm high (not including the pin bar lugs) and weighs 3.56g. Examples of seal boxes can be seen in Crummy, 1983, figure 106. This seal box lid probably dates to the 2nd or 3rd century. | Format: | text/html | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ | Publisher: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Rights holder: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Subjects: | archaeology | Temporal: | 100
280 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Caroline McDonald | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
-
-
-
SEAL BOX
Incomplete copper alloy Roman seal…
-
Seal box
Incomplete copper alloy Roman seal…
-
SEAL BOX
Incomplete copper alloy Roman seal…
-
-
-
SEAL BOX
A complete and unopened enamelled…
-
SEAL BOX
Complete copper alloy Roman seal…
|