In 55 B.C. the Roman general Julius Caesar conquered France (At the time the country was called Gaul, and the Romans called it Gallia). The Gauls fought hard against the Romans and had been helped by their friends in Britain. Caesar was upset by their assistance and decided to teach the Britons a lesson.

Julius Caesar made two attempts to invade Britain, first in 55 B.C. and then again in 54 B.C. Both times the British warriors and the rotten British weather made his army give up and return to Gallia.

Nearly a hundred years later in 43 A.D. the Emperor Claudius sent another army to invade Britain. This time the Romans were successful, Roman Britain had begun!

Roman coins page click here

New Roman/British silver coin page click here

New seperate Roman gold page click here

New seperate Roman military artefact page click here

Possible Romano/British silver handle - reported as treasure to Colchester museum

11.84g, 33.36mm w x 41.46mm H x 7.24mm T

Stunningly beautiful - Romano/British bronze razor back pig/hog offering ? red enamelled eyes - 65.56mm L x 39.9mm H 148g

Late Roman early Saxon padlock

3 cut outs to rear

38mm L x 27.8mm H - 10.06g

Stunning find - Celtic dragon headed toggle clothing fastener - 42.55mm L x 36.99mm H 27.37g

Fantastic find 1stC BC Celtic bucket mount - The bird probably a raven would be one of a series used as decoration around the top of the bucket. The bucket was used in sacrifial or religious ceremonies

In Celtic mythology birds were represented as the messengers of the gods

34.02mm L, 5.28g

British Celtic 'Pierced Bulb' Toggle Fastener

Circa 1st century BC-1st century AD. A cast fitting in the form of a pierced bulb with medial indent extending to a thick, round-section discoid terminal. Such fittings were used as toggles to fasten garments, passing through a slit or loop. Reference: cf. looped variants in Murawski, P. Benet's Artefacts of England and the United Kingdom

Full size Roman stone phallic ornament, George III sixpence for size - 72.5 mm L x 30.71mm W

Roman bracelet

Huge Roman bronze animal head mount - possible bucket or pot mount - looks like it is a bird with a hooked beak but it could also be an elephant

80.24g, 29.32mm L x 28.5mm dia

Fragment of a closed loop Roman dolphin buckle

18.42g, 45.34mm L x9.17mm Thickest , tapering to 5.79mm dia

Huge bronze 1st to 4thC Roman key 48.36g, 54.94mm L x 34.45mm W x 10.33mm T

1stC BC to 1stC AD Celtic bronze cosmetic wode grinder (used to make blue dye) - side suspension loop type (missing) 3.78g, 33.57mm L x 10.67mm w

c100BC - AD 50 Cosmetic Celtic woad grinder pestal - missing suspension loop

Roman bronze animal headed mount - unlikely to be a dagger pommel with offset heads

Disc brooch found in the same area - Possibly Roman but could also be Saxon - one for the museum

23.05mm ,7.02g

2ndC Roman tweezers

C 1stC AD Celtic drinking vessel spout - face decoration

34.94mm W x 20.63mm L - 27.20g

Roman handle mount

2ndC Roman fibular brooch with red enamelling and gold cross decoration remaining

Interesting early item like a protected loop terret - offset wear means it is some type of strap guide

Stunning Roman mount with face decoration

This is enormous with gold, red enamelled

65mm high

Roman strap fitting (with ring-and-dot decoration)

4.73g, 26.71mm L x 12.57mm W

Roman bronze dagger pommel

First complete with intact suspension loop grinding tool we have found - We have found several of the base units

Two piece set made up from the grooved base and the small grinding tool

1stC BC to 1stC AD Celtic Woad cosmetic grinder - boat shaped

The grinder was used to pulverise vegetable material such as woad in the preparation of dyes.

These are also known as perfume or cosmetic grinders. During the Celtic period in Britain a biennial herb called Isatis Tinctoria; was cultivated for the blue dye that could be obtained from it when crushed. This plant is also known as woad. The dye would then be applied to the skin

Interesting Roman decorated bronze implement - serrated thumb grip like on Roman buckle tongues - needs research

1stC Celtic cosmetic woad grinder with suspension loop

Roman military mount

A near identical mount is in Benet’s Artefacts second volume, page171 number R09-0403.

Described as Mount (Eagle) 50mm. Spread wings with feathers detailed. Mounted on a stem. Perhaps from a military standard.

Romano-British protected loop terret

'Protected loop terrets are usually considered to be Roman and dating to the late first and second centuries AD'

Iron Age snake headed finger ring

Roman bronze bust mount

Roman bronze enameled widget - possible balance weight pivot - needs more research

Roman bronze vessel mount

Large Roman champlevé enamel inlay fragment- reminds me of Terret ring size

Possible large zoomorphic brooch

Picture at the British museum

A complete copper-alloy Roman pin of probable mid first to mid second century date

Roman decorated stick pin

Romano-British protected loop terret

'Protected loop terrets are usually considered to be Roman and dating to the late first and second centuries AD'

This Roman terret ring dates to circa 1st - 2nd century AD. Terret rings were attached to chariots, carts or wagons and served as rein-guides. They helped guide in reins from the horses harness to the rider/charioteers hands. This particular type of 'skirted' terret ring dates to the Roman period (more specifically 1st - 2nd century AD). The terret would have been strapped to a wooden yoke, which is a pole fixed to the front of the cart and passed between a pair of horses. Most vehicles would have five terrets; four small side terrets (two for the reins of each horse) and one larger central terret, probably at the end of the yoke closest to the driver, through which the reins would pass.

Unusual huge bronze pot foot - not the normal medieval type so possbly Roman - need to study my ref books

Tiny Roman lead dice

Unique ID: DUR-1079B4

Roman prick spur

A copper alloy Roman prick spur probably dating to the fourth century AD.

The spur is made up of three projecting arms with approximately 90 degrees between each arm. On two of the arms are small loops and a break suggesting one on the third arm. There is a hexagonal area in the centre of the three arms and this is where the spur is attached. The spur is cone shaped. On each of the arms there is incised linear decoration.

Spurs such as this example are thought to be of a British type and have been found in fourth and fifth century contexts. Although spurs are primarily military in character it is not unusual to find spurs of this type in rural locations. Similar examples have been recorded on the PAS database: DENO-8FB8E3 and LIN-D3B115.

Romano-British protected loop terret

'Protected loop terrets are usually considered to be Roman and dating to the late first and second centuries AD'

Roman bronze dice - opposite faces do not add up to 7

Classic Roman mounts

Very unusual Roman bronze mount - possible lynch pin with hole through pin

1stC BC to 1stC AD Celtic cosmetic wode grinder