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Description: | An incomplete, and very small, copper-alloy end-looped cosmetic mortar of Late Iron Age to Roman date. It has a crescent shaped bow, tapering towards its terminal end, that is V-shaped in section with deep, worn central groove on the interior surface. At the thicker end of the bow the object expands to an integral oval shaped loop, missing its outer edge due to old breaks. All surfaces have a worn and corroded green patina. It measures 34.57mm in length, 6.27mm in width, 7.52mm in maximum height, approximately 0.7mm in maximum depth at the central groove, and 5.19g 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 -2nd 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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