With contributions from D. G. Buckley, Philip Crummy, Elizabeth Fowler, Patricia Galloway, Stephen Greep, Mark Hassall, Martin Henig, Hilary Major, Graham Webster, and J. P. Wild.
Published 1983 by Colchester Archaeological Trust. Reprinted 1995.
This report, the second in the series entitled 'Colchester Archaeological Reports', deals with the Roman small finds from excavations and watching briefs undertaken in Colchester between 1971 and 1979 by the Colchester Archaeological Trust (formerly Colchester Excavation Committee). The examination of the small finds was begun in spring 1976 and the Roman section was completed in autumn 1981. The work has had to be done largely without the benefit of the definitive site phasing. The small finds, with full archival details, are in the Colchester and Essex Museum.
In all, more than 14,800 small finds of all periods were recorded during nine years of continuous excavations. In order to deal with such a large number of objects, the classification and methods of recording and storing small finds have been refined over the years. The methods now in use in Colchester are described in some detail in the hope that they may be of some help to finds assistants elsewhere. Indeed, it is hoped that this volume will prove to be a useful guide for finds assistants as a small finds report embracing samples of most types of object likely to be found on Roman sites.
Author(s): Nina Crummy
Series: Colchester Archaeological Reports, 2
Edition: Reprint
Publisher: Colchester Archaeological Trust
Year: 1995
Language: English
Pages: 454
Acknowledgements
Illustrations
INTRODUCTION
The sites 1971-9 (Fig 1)
What are small finds?
Soil Conditions
Conservation: policy and problems
The method of the initial recording and the storage of small finds
The classification system
The categories
CATEGORY 1: OBJECTS OF PERSONAL ADORNMENT OR DRESS
BOW BROOCHES
PLATE BROOCHES
PENANNULAR BROOCHES
HAIRPINS
BONE PINS
JET PINS
GLASS PINS (Fig 25; 461 -465)
METAL PINS
BEADS
GADROONED BEADS
ANNULAR BEADS
DISC BEADS
SHORT BEADS
STANDARD BEADS
LONG BEADS
OTHER BEADS
ARMLETS
SHALE AND JET ARMLETS
BONE ARMLETS
COPPER-ALLOY ARMLETS
IRON ARMLETS
FINGER-RINGS
SHALE AND JET FINGER-RINGS
COPPER-ALLOY FINGER-RINGS
WHITE-METAL FINGER-RINGS
IRON FINGER-RINGS
EARRINGS (Fig 53; 1795-1798)
MISCELLANEOUS JEWELLERY (Fig 54; 1799-1801)
BUCKLES AND BELT-PLATES (Fig 55; 1813-1820)
HOBNAILS (Fig 56; 1821-1849)
?PURSE (Fig 57; 1850)
CATEGORY 2: TOILET, SURGICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL INSTRUMENTS
COMBS (Figs 58 and 59; 1851-1860)
STIRRING RODS (Fig 60; 1861-1864)
MIXING PALETTES (Fig 61; 1865-1868)
NAIL-CLEANERS
TWEEZERS (Fig 63; 1876-1895)
TOILET SPOONS
SPOON-PROBES (Fig 65; 1926-1932)
PROBES
MISCELLANEOUS TOILET INSTRUMENTS (Fig 66; 1939-1940)
TOILET SETS (Fig 67; 1941-1945)
SPATULAS (Fig 68; 1946-1950)
OCULIST'S STAMPS (Fig69; 1951 -1953)
CATEGORY 3: OBJECTS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OR WORKING OF TEXTILES NEEDLES
SEWING NEEDLES
NETTING NEEDLE (Fig 70, 1996)
SPINDLEWHORLS (Fig 71; 1997-2005)
WEAVING TABLETS (Fig72; 2006-2007)
CATEGORY 4: HOUSEHOLD UTENSILS AND FURNITURE
SPOONS
OBJECTS USED IN THE PREPARATION OR SERVING OF FOOD
LAMPS
FURNITURE FRAGMENTS AND FITTINGS
LAMP-HOOKS (Fig 84; 2112-2114)
BOX FITTINGS FIRST BUTT ROAD BOX
SECOND BUTT ROAD BOX (Fig 92; 2214- 2222)
OTHER BOX FITTINGS (Fig 93; 2223-2224)
COUCH/BED (2225)
CATEGORY 5: OBJECTS USED FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES COUNTERS FOR BOARD GAMES
BONE COUNTERS
GLASS COUNTERS (Fig 95; 2284-2294)
POTTERY COUNTERS
TILE COUNTERS (Fig 100; 2483-2495)
STONE COUNTERS (Fig 101; 2496-2499)
BONE DICE (Fig 102; 2500-2506)
CATEGORY 6: OBJECTS EMPLOYED IN WEIGHING AND MEASURING
SCALES
WEIGHTS (Fig 105; 2510-2515)
CATEGORY 7: OBJECTS USED FOR OR ASSOCIATED WITH WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
SEAL-BOXES
STYLUS (Fig 107; 2532-2535)
CATEGORY 8: OBJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSPORT
HARNESS
CART FITTING (Fig 109; 2545)
CATEGORY 9: BUILDINGS AND SERVICES
CATEGORY 10: TOOLS
TOOL HANDLES
BONE AND ANTLER HANDLES
COPPER-ALLOY HANDLES (Fig 112; 2938- 2939)
IRON KNIFE OR CLEAVER BLADES (Fig 113; 2940-2951)
HONES (Fig 114; 2952-2972)
VARIOUS IRON TOOLS (Fig 115; 2973- 2981)
CATEGORY 11: FASTENINGS AND FITTINGS
NAILS AND STUDS COPPER-ALLOY NAILS
COPPER-ALLOY STUDS
IRON NAILS AND STUDS
RIVETS (Fig 123; 4030-4034)
BOSSES
DOUBLE-SPIKED LOOPS (Figs 125 and 126; 4057-4069)
JOINER'S DOGS (Fig 127; 4070-4072)
T-STAPLES (Fig 128; 4073-4074)
RING-HEADED PIN (Fig 128; 4075)
WALL HOOK (Fig 129; 4076)
BRACKETS OR TIE-STRIPS (Fig 130; 4077-4084)
HINGE FITTINGS (Fig 131; 4085-4097)
COLLARS AND FERRULES (Fig 132; 4098-4107)
BINDING (Fig 133; 4108-4120)
MISCELLANEOUS FITTINGS (Fig 134; 4121- 4127)
LOCKS AND KEYS
CATEGORY 12: OBJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
BELLS (Fig 143; 4165-4172)
CATEGORY 13: MILITARY EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT FROM CONTEXTS DATED 43 TO 60/1
ARMOUR
ARMS
TOOLS
CAVALRY HARNESS FITTINGS
FIRST-CENTURY EQUIPMENT FROM CONTEXTS DATED LATER THAN 60/1
ARMOUR
ARMS
TOOLS
CAVALRY HARNESS PENDANTS (Fig 156; 4233-4234)
EQUIPMENT USUALLY DATED TO THE SECOND AND/OR THIRD CENTURIES
ARMOUR
ARMS
CAVALRY ARMOUR (Fig 1 61; 4246)
LATE ROMAN BELT-FITTINGS, PROBABLY FROM THE CINGULUM MILITARE (Fig 162; 4247-4254)
PHALLIC AMULETS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ROMAN ARMY (Figs 163-165; 4255-4259)
CATEGORY 14: OBJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES
FIGURINES
MODEL (?VOTIVE) OBJECTS (Fig 178; 4280-4283)
VOTIVE PLAQUE (4284)
METAL LETTERS (Fig 179; 4285-4286)
AMULETS (Fig 180; 4287-4288)
IRON COFFIN FITTINGS FROM BUTT ROAD (Fig 181; 4289-4296)
TEXTILE FRAGMENTS FROM THE LATER BUTT ROAD CEMETERY (4297-4305)
CATEGORY 15: OBJECTS AND WASTE MATERIAL ASSOCIATED WITH METALWORKING
CATEGORY 16: OBJECTS AND WASTE MATERIAL ASSOCIATED WITH ANTLER, HORN, BONE, AND TOOTH WORKING
ANTLER OFFCUTS OR UNFINISHED OBJECTS (Fig 182; 4306-4312)
HORN-WORKING WASTE
BONE OFFCUTS OR UNFINISHED OBJECTS (Fig 183; 4314-4331)
WORKED TOOTH FRAGMENT (Fig 184; 4332)
A BONE-WORKING INDUSTRY ON BALKERNE LANE AREA N (Figs 185 and 186; 4333-4347)
THE BUTT ROAD BONE-WORKING INDUSTRY
CATEGORY 17: OBJECTS AND WASTE MATERIAL ASSOCIATED WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF POTTERY VESSELS OR PIPECLAY OBJECTS
CATEGORY 18: OBJECTS THE FUNCTION OR IDENTIFICATION OF WHICH IS UNKNOWN OR UNCERTAIN
RINGS (Fig 197; 4396-4423)
CHAINS (Fig 198; 4424-4445)
COPPER-ALLOY WIRE (4446-4462)
BONE 7PEGS (Fig 199; 4463-4472)
SHEET COPPER-ALLOY (4473-4600)
MISCELLANEOUS UNIDENTIFIED COPPER-ALLOY OBJECTS (Figs 200-204; 4601-4658)
UNIDENTIFIED GOLD OBJECT (Fig 205; 4659)
UNIDENTIFIED WHITE-METAL OBJECT
MISCELLANEOUS UNIDENTIFIED IRON OBJECTS (Fig 206; 4661-4694)
MISCELLANEOUS UNIDENTIFIED LEAD OBJECTS (Figs 207 and 208; 4695-4743)
MISCELLANEOUS UNIDENTIFIED BONE OBJECTS (Figs 209 and 210; 4744.4756)
UNIDENTIFIED ANTLER OBJECT (Fig 211; 4757)
UNIDENTIFIED FRIT OBJECT (Fig 212; 4758)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
OBJECT INDEX
INDEX OF OBJECTS BY MATERIALS
Microfiche
