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Description: | A copper alloy terminal, probably from a staff or sceptre.The object is cylindrical and measures 26mm in diameter. The wall is 1.7mm thick. The cylinder is decorated with five concave bands each measuring 2mm in width. The first band forms the perimeter of the opening. A small bar of copper alloy is threaded through the centre of the cylinder through two holes in the wall. Each hole is located between the first two bands. The bar is damaged towards one end where it is slightly pushed downwards towards the opening.The final band curves into an expanded terminal cap measuring 37mm in diameter and 33mm in thickness. The cap is decorated with four deep concentric circular channels of varying widths. The outer channel measures 2mm in width and has as very slight upturned outer perimeter lip. The next channel in measures 3mm in width, the next 2mm and the most inner channel 6mm. All four channels contain traces of enamel, now degraded and a dark red/black colour. In the centre of the cap is a dome of pinkish coloured coral measuring 7mm in diameter and circa 2mm tall. The dome of coral sits on a narrow pedestal of bronze.The surface of the terminal has a grey-light green patina with an extensive patch of darker green corrosion covering approximately one half of the cylinder. The terminal may have been deposited on its side in antiquity and subject to different burial conditions resulting in the pattern of corrosion noted.A parallel for this terminal/fitting has not been found at the time of writing. The decorative elements such as the enamel and the coral inlay suggest that this fitting dates to the late Iron Age or perhaps early Roman period. Broadly similar fittings from the same period are traditionally known as 'horn caps' and were thought to be pole-tip sheaths which were used as a pair of yoke finials, however Jope (Early Celtic Art) suggests that these may be ceremonial staff-heads or a finial on a ceremonial seats, partularly since no examples of these finials have been found in chariot burials.The terminal was purchased by the Collection (Museum of Art and Archaeology, Lincoln).Another item of Iron Age metalwork was discovered on the same field in 2009 and is recorded on the PAS database as LIN-285A76.
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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