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Description: | A complete cast copper-alloy cosmetic mortar of Late Iron Age to Roman date. The bow is crescent shaped in form with a deeply incised central groove that produces a U-shaped cross-section. At each end the bow has circular terminal knops and the exterior surfaces of the bow are slightly faceted in appearance. At the centre of the bow is an integrally cast suspension loop, which is circular in form with projections at its base that curve outwards and upwards. It has a central circular perforation with a slight incision at the base of the circle as well as signs of use wear to the upper areas of the loop. This cosmetic mortar has a dark green patina with some pitting in places as well as encrustation on the exterior and interior faces. It measures 51.78mm in length, 10.74mm in width, 19.65mm in height at suspension loop, and weighs 17.70g. Cosmetic mortars such as this would have formed part of cosmetic sets, the now missing corresponding pestle allowing for the grinding of small amounts of cosmetic powders. These objects are unique to Britain and Gaul and often have fertility associations. They probably find their origins in the Late Iron Age and date to between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.
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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