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Description: | A worn cast copper-alloy cosmetic mortar of Late Iron Age to Roman date. It has a crescent shaped bow that is U-shaped in section with one rounded and one looped terminal end. 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 end the bow thickens to a cylindrical collar that has a series of four incised circumferential grooves, from which projects a worn oval shaped terminal knop with oval aperture. The opposite end of the bow has a projecting terminal knop that is cylindrical in form with double transverse moulded collar followed by a constricted neck and a globular terminal that has double incised circumferential grooves. The entire object has a worn green patina that has extensive pitting and invasive copper-alloy corrosion. It measures 81.37mm in length, 10.56mm in width, 9.03mm in thickness at centre of bow, has a central groove of approximately 4.70mm in maximum depth, and weighs 27.20g.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-AA0891, 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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