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Description: | A squashed copper-alloy bell, probably of Roman date. The conical, hollow bell would have been circular in plan but has been squashed in from both sides. It is triangular in profile, with an integral pentagonal suspension loop at its apex. The loop is flat with a small circular hole drilled through it. The sides are decorated in openwork with a row of triangular cutouts near the top. On the lower surface of the apex are two vestigial tabs where the clapper would have been.Similar openwork bells with cut outs have been dated to the Roman or Early Medieval periods on this database. SF-A755C5 has been identified as of early-medieval date, while SOM-ECC8D2 is given as Roman; both records quote other database examples and refer to published bells of similar form but without the openwork. Openwork bells have been discussed recently in Schoenfelder and Richards (2011, 153-154) who suggest they are not Early Medieval as they vary from 'Norse' bells in form and their more southerly distribution. A Roman date is therefore suggested.In support of the Roman date a similarly shaped bell was found in excavations at Colchester (Crummy 1995, p.127, no.4168 ) and one with a very similar suspension loop at Aldborough (Bishop 1996, p.8-9, no.9). Those discovered at Colchester were thought to be primarily attached to the collars of domestic animals, but may also have been used as personal ornaments.
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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