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Description: | An incomplete 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 deep central groove on the interior surface. At the centre of the bow there is a moulded bilobed projection with a slight groove on one face separating it from the bow proper. This projects outwards and narrows to form an integral end loop that was oval in section and perhaps oval in form but is now incomplete due to old breaks. All surfaces have a green patina but are extremely corroded with extensive pitting. It measures 56.67mm in length, 9.97mm in width, 20.96mm in maximum height, approximately 5mm in maximum depth at the central groove, and 15.33g in weight.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, c.1st century BC-2nd centuryAD.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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