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Description: | Roman copper alloy key of 1st or early 2nd century AD dateThe key is a tumbler-lock slide key and is incomplete, missing the base of the stem the bit (with a surviving length of 57.2mm and a weight of 19.9g). There is an integral circular loop at the apex (14.5mm external diameter, 8.7mm internal diameter and 4.1mm - 5.7mm thick). There is a shoulder between the loop and the rectangular-sectioned grip (with a thickness of 6.4mm). The grip has straight sides gradually converging towards the stem (with a width below the loop of 15.1mm and 13.2mm before the stem). The stem is oval-sectioned, narrowing slightly towards the base (with a surviving length of 20.9mm, a width of 6.3mm - 7.6mm and a thickness of 6.1mm). The end of the stem is hollow (with a diameter of 3.8mm). The bit was perpendicular to the handle but only a fragment now survives (with a surviving length of 5.2mm, a width of 6.3mm and a thickness of 3.3mm). One tooth now survives on the bit. The surface is heavily corroded and worn with a pale-green patina with areas of bright-green corrosion and no applied decoration is now discernible on the key.Keys of this type and form in copper alloy generally date from the first to mid-second century AD.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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