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Description: | Cast copper alloy cosmetic mortar (also known as cosmetic or woad grinder) of late Iron Age to early Roman date circa 300 BC - 200 AD. It has a plain bowed profile with a loop positioned at one end. The mortar is sub-triangular (U shaped) in cross section. It has an elliptical (lentoid) or sub-oval plan with both end terminals tapering to blunt points. The looped terminal is much more slight and tapered than the other. Both terminals are damaged abraded but seem plain without augmentation or decoration. On the upper edge of the mortar is the grinding area / surface. This is also elliptical (sub-oval) in plan. The grinding area is positioned closer to the terminal opposite the loop; this gives the mortar a scoop or ladle like appearance. The grinding area measures 52.5mm long, 5.9mm wide, and is 3.3mm deep. The grinding area has a very shallow U shaped cross section and shows visible highly polished wear. This wear is likely to have occurred during its period of use as a mortar as there is an even patina covering the surface. The mortar measures 80.9mm long, 8.9mm wide, a maximum of 10.5mm thick, and weighs 10.56 grams. There are no decorative motifs on the mortar. The whole of the mortar is covered in a much abraded mid-dark green patina. This patina has been chipped in many places, mostly on the outer edges of the mortar, and this suggests modern damage whilst in the plough soil. Much of the surface is also pitted and very small areas of light green corrosion are present on the surface. Similar end-looped cosmetic mortars can be seen in Ralph Jackson's paper on 'Cosmetic sets from the late Iron Age and Roman Britain' (1985: Britannia, Vol. 16, p165- 192). However, in comparison to the examples listed by Jackson this mortar is unusual being exceptionally long with a scoop like shape and a comparatively large loop.
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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