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Description: | An incomplete cast copper alloy 'miniature or small' knobbed terret ring of probable later Iron Age or early Roman date (100 BC - 200 AD). Approximately 1/4 of the terret survives, originally it would have been D shaped or an irregular slightly angular pentangle in plan; it is now an irregular crescent (C shape). The cross section varies in shape along the length of the terret; for the majority it is D shaped. At the base of the ring is a horizontal strap bar with an oval cross section; this is broken and little survives. The strap bar itself is slight and much thinner than the ring, it is also slightly offset. The ring itself is thicker with distinct raised moulded lappet (circumferential swelling or collar) at the junction with the bar. Originally the ring would have had an angular arch; decorated with a series of evenly spaced knops. Only one of these knops survives, it is sub-spherical (ball or bun like), being a slight flattened sphere which projects from either side of the ring. It is decorated with a circumvention (basal) groove and a vertical ridge, which possibly may have been a scroll. The ring thins after this external knop and is much waisted by both abrasion and corrosion. It is possible that it may also have been thinned by wear - but the condition doe not allow this interpretation. There is no other evidence of incised, cast or applied decoration. The terret ring is a mid brown colour with an abraded but polished patina. Similar shaped terret rings are known from both Iron Age and Roman contexts. A large number of similar sized terret rings can be seen in McGregor: Early Celtic Art in Northern Britain, they all come from either late Iron Age or early Roman contexts.The terret ring fragment measures 38.3mm length, 30.3mm width is 13.5mm thick across the widest part. It weighs 16.18 grams. | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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