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Description: | Cast copper alloy gilt or silvered fragment of unknown function and unknown date. It is most likely that this fragment is part of a pair of tweezers, probably of Roman or early medieval date, however a lack of suitable reference material and also appropriate knowledge of the artefact type results in the unknown and undated fragment. The artefact is formed from a sheet of shaped copper alloy which is bent at the centre. In plan, if the item was straightened it would be irregular in shape, being broadly sub-rectangular with a much narrowed centre which expands to two terminals, one of which is rounded the other flat and straight (best described as bow-tie like). The upper surface of the artefact is decorated with a well defined neat incised line which respects or conforms to the outer shape of the artefact, forming a neat border. This is further decorated by double incised or punched vertical lines (set at right angles to the border) which are evenly spaced around all edges. Where the decoration and the artefact narrows a series of punched annulets or pellets fill the gap in a repeating horizontal band. The reverse / underside is undecorated. Both surfaces have also been gilt or silvered, the surface has decayed an only small traces survive, in places this surface looks gilt and others is a grey decayed silver. The artefact is a mid grey green colour with a well preserved a little abraded patina. A direct parallel has not been found. In style the decoration is very similar to that on late Roman and early medieval artefacts and the nature and position on the bend would suggest that this artefact is most likely to be a set of tweezers.The artefact measures, 32.5mm length, is 13.3mm maximum width across the terminal, 5.7mm minimum across the centre, is thickest at the centre, being 1.9mm thick and thinnest on the terminal 0.7mm thick. It weighs 3.59 grams.
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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