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Description: | An incomplete cast copper alloy Roman terret ring dating to the 1st and 2nd century AD. A semi-circular loop survives beneath the bar with a knop on either side of a rectangular panel. Originally, there would have been an integral, semi-circular sectioned, larger circular hoop, now incomplete. The hoop is oval sectioned and has two ancient breaks which are flush with the top of the bar. The loop is attached to opposing ends of the rectangular panel. The outside of the skirt has incised marks along the length of the rectangular panel, with the result that the outside has slightly more angular cross section than the inside. The incisions do not appear to be decorative or as a result of wear and there are considerably more incisions to one side of the bar. At either end of the bar are asymetrical knops, which are of variable size and form. The larger knop is rounded, and the smaller knop is flat on one side and rounded on the other. Incised lines are present around the base of the knops at the junction with the bar and skirt. The edges of the skirt are pitted and irregular and below it is concave with a rough surface. The concave surface has a light blue/green copper alloy patina. Traces of a light brown residue are also present suggesting that perhaps the object was retrieved from iron-rich soil or deposited next to an iron object.The exposed surfaces of the terret have a dark brown patina. The length of the terret (from knop to knop) is 38.22mm. The width (from the apex of the loop to the bar) is 8.51mm. The thickness of the skirt is 11.62mm. It weighs 14.83g.Comparison with other examples on the database shows that this type of terret tends to have rectangular loops under the skirt suggesting that a semi circular loop is a little unusual. However, similar semi circular looped terrets are recorded under references IOW-60D398 and SUSS-E88FD2. All other examples of skirted terrets on the database have lower and more rounded skirts. It is uncertain whether this terret has a deliberately different style or design, or if the quality of the casting, the asymmetry of the object and the apparent attempts to alter the shape of the skirt and knops indicate that this was a poorly produced terret ring.
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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