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Description: | A cast copper-alloy end looped cosmetic mortar of Late Iron Age to Roman date. It has a crescent shaped bow that is V-shaped in section with one rounded and one looped terminal end. On the interior surface is a central groove that is relatively deeply incised, its precise form uncertain due to extensive encrustation. At the looped end the bow narrows and projects to form the integral loop, which is circular shaped in form with a central oval shaped aperture that shows possible signs of use-wear at its outer edge. Where the loop curves around to rejoin the underside of the bow there is a slight groove separating loop and bow. The entire object has a worn brown patina with much post-depositional corrosion, pitting and damage. It measures 51.53mm in length, 5.88mm in maximum width, 7.69mm in thickness at centre of bow, and weighs 7.26g. 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-0E1581, 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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