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Description: | An incomplete cast copper-alloy end-looped cosmetic mortar of Late Iron Age to Roman date. It has a crescent shaped bow that is U-shaped in section with one pointed terminal end and an incomplete looped terminal at the other. On the interior surface is a central groove that is pointed-oval shaped in plan, relatively deeply incised and shows possible signs of use-wear. At the looped terminal end the bow curves slightly outwards to form the loop, half of which is now missing due to old breaks. The loop projects prominently from the bow and incised grooves can be seen running from the top of the bow to meet at the centre of the underside of the loop. It has a dark green patina with some pitting in places. The entire object measures 59.63mm in length, 8.17mm in maximum width, 5.50mm in thickness at centre of bow, has a central groove of approximately 2.5mm in maximum depth, and weighs 8.19g. Cosmetic mortars such as this were utilised as part of a two-piece set to grind small quantities of powder and probably had an association with fertility, some having male and female animal head terminals. They appear unique to Britain during the later stages of the Iron Age and the Roman period, with examples that have end loops such as the current object noted from elsewhere in Suffolk (see for example SF-E57A95, SF-4CFDF7, SF-3D3650 or SF-89EA45).
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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