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Romano/British Artefacts

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!

Romano British finds
4thC Roman gold ring with green stone found by Mass Bill

Roman bronze winged Phallus pendant 27.87 - 49.02mm L found by Cal Jeff

Benets Artefact book page 171 .Roman Eagle, spread wings with feathers, mount perhaps from a military standard

Found by NJ Ed

Roman 2nd c. brooch derivative 'T' shaped tapering

AD 50 Colchester type T shape dolphin brooch (c)

Dress fastener is 1/2nd century AD- Romano British a variant 29
Hattatt found by NJ Ed
Roman 1st to 4thC lead dice(b)
1st to 4th C Roman disc brooch ?
1stC AD Roman fibula brooch
Large egg shaped lead weight with iron hanger, possible Roman steel yard weight (r)
Roman steelyard weight
Unusual Roman 1st to 4thC brooch
Roman 1st C Dolphin brooch - variant Hattatt
1st C Bronze Roman bird
Roman bucket loop
1stC Roman brooch

AD 50 Colchester type T shape dolphin brooch (y)

Late Iron Age/ early Roman bronze strap divider (terret)found by Texas Rechey

Terrets were used in paired draught to guide the reins from the horse’s mouths to the hands of the driver. In total, five terrets form a complete set. All five were placed along the yoke, with the central terret being larger than the other four. Probably first century AD.

Roman lock pin 1st to 4thC.
2ndC Roman trumpet brooch
Roman ear scraper 30mm long

2 - Roman ear scrapers
Roman 1st to 4thC dagger handle

Romano/British decorated tweezers 7.54g, 57.57mm L x 11.96mm w found by Nova Scotia Andy
Celtic brooch
Roman period ring found by Californian Ron
Roman Apothecary weight
Roman lead 3oz weight, 49.12 mm with III mark ref N.Biggs

2ndC Roman bronze disc brooch
Silver Ear wax scraper - donated to Colchester museum

Legio XIX was a Roman legion levied (drafted into military service) in 41 or 40 BC by Augustus. They were destroyed in AD 9 in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. The emblem of the XIX th legion is unknown, but probably was the Capricorn as other legions levied by Augustus.

The first assignment was in Sicily where Sextus Pompeius, son of Pompey, was still rebelling. This revolt put Rome's grain supply in peril and it needed a harsh response.

In 30 BC, veterans of the XIX legion were settled near Pisa, and after that, the rest of the legion was allocated in the Rhine frontier with base camp at Cologne. The XIX legion participated in the German Campaigns of Drusus (13 to 9 BC) and Tiberius (8 to 5 BC). By the year 5 BC Germania was a Roman province and Publius Quintilius Varus was assigned as governor.

In September AD 9, Arminius, leader of the Cherusci and a Roman ally, set a trap. He reported a major revolt of one of the western tribes and suggested the return of both governor and his legions to the Rhine. Varus accepted the suggestion and went with the XVII, XVIII and XIX legions. The army was trapped near Osnabrück and was completely destroyed in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. Between 16 and 18, Germanicus, the leader of the Rhine armies, looked for the remains of the legions. His army buried the bodies and recovered the legions' eagles for Rome.

Celtic Woad cosmetic grinder - boat shaped with suspension loop 14.5g - 45.12mm L x 9.88mm T found by Mass Linda

Roman bronze lynch pin
Roman bronze pin head
Benets Artefact book page 171 .Roman Eagle, spread wings with feathers, mount perhaps from a military standard
1st C BC/AD Roman La Tene fibula brooch

Just cleaned up an earlier ring find by Boston Bud

to reveal the initial 'Pvke' - possibly Roman from the area that produced the XIX legion ring

1st/2nd C Roman latch key

A fragment of a Romano-Britsh protected loop terret. The loop through which the reins would have passed is missing and only the base of the object remains. This consists of a sub-circular sectioned D-shaped attachment loop that is situated beneath a triangular ‘skirt’ that comes down over the loop to the front and back. At each side the skirt ‘flicks-up’ rather like a jesters hat. There are a number of these types of terrets known from Norfolk including the examples from Beighton and Tatterset (31569 and HER 33975).

 

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

Roman fibula brooch
8 Scripila coin weight
Roman key fragment
1stC decorated Roman brooch, bow and foot only(b)
1st C Roman fibula brooch - Colchester type
Very early bronze bead
Very unusual type 2ndC Roman head stud type bronze brooch 6.83g - 38.02mmL
1stC AD Colchester type Roman fibula brooch fragment

Very unusual Aucissa derivative 1stC AD Bronze Roman fibula brooch with extra large shoulders

34.12mmW 24.41mm L, 5.47g

Part of the mechanism still in shoulder - great find

Huge Roman bronze key 56.66mm L35.47 mm w 11.73mm t, 55.86g
Huge Roman bronze key 41.19g, 55.95mm L,
Roman bronze escution 24.8g, 56.63mm L x 26.25mm w (possibly Bronze Age)

 

Roman bronze lock pin fragment
2ndC Roman Plate brooch -enamel cells of red and blue - gold spokes 4.99g, 28.85mm L x 18.54mm w
2nd C Roman blue and yellow enameled Plate brooch - 7.56g,28.1mm L x 15.46mm W
1st to 2nd C Roman blue enameled Trumpet brooch 9.84g, 16.63mm W x 21.68mm L

1stC Celtic bronze animal head mount
2nd C Roman bronze statue in uniform (possibly military) with toga over arm - some red enameling remaining 28.87g, 52.25mm H
Roman decorated stylus - loop missing 7.99g, 42.68mm L,8.05mm dia
Roman ear scoop
Roman bronze pin 65.15mm L
Roman ear scoop
Roman gilded fruit spoon - note the latch for hanging it on the side of the bowl
Roman clothing fastener ?
Roman Centurian standard eagle

Ear scraper shape with bowl end - could be Roman but looks later possibly medieval 42.02mm L
1stC BC Celtic bronze wode grinder - suspension loop type worn around the neck 11.09g, 41.56mm L

4thC Roman 3.92g, 25.25mm outer dia 3.12mm thick

1st C - Very unusual Roman brooch 18.11mm W, 24.31mm L

'The Langton Down style was developed in Gaul in the late 1st C BC but saw use in Britain from the time of the Claudian invasion until about 75 AD. The spring on these brooches is enclosed within a distinctive tubing of fairly thin construction.The bow is flat and very thin decorated with grooves and ribs (reeding)'

Celtic looking lead medallion - horse has distinct Celtic syle legs with ball joints
Very early bronze Romano/British dagger quillion- one for the museum
Roman bronze closed loop buckle fragment
Possible Bronze age Terret ring

 

Roman bronze signet ring - the face is worn but appears to be T 2.43g, 21.25 mmdia

Fragment of a closed loop Roman dolphin buckle

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

 

Bronze age casting plug 54.75g, 31.09L x 27.77mm Wx 22.00mm H
1stC Roman Dolphine type fibula brooch
1stC Roman Dolphine type fibula brooch
Roman bronze closed loop buckle fragment
Roman centurion standard eagle mount
Gold nugget probably Celtic Circa 1stC - reported as treasure to Colchester museum and will be tested by British museum 2.17g,6.73mm

Roman bronze decorated latch key with suspension hole 48.26mm L x 8.83mm x T x 12.45mm H, 17.62g
Roman period bowl with hanger 35.86mm L x 24.99 mm W
Roman bronze dagger quillion 28.79mm dia,5.12g
Possible Roman Twisted wire ring, copper alloy with traces of gilding remaining - one for the museum
36.44mm W
1stC Roman Dolphine type fibula brooch
1stC Roman Dolphine type fibula brooch

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

Romano/British mount
38.68g, 55.64mm L x 15.43mm W x33.39mm H
Celtic harness bridal cheek piece
Romano/British bronze dog mount - 2.87g, 22.91mm H x 11.48mm W

A complete Romano-Britsh protected loop terret. The loop through which the reins would have passed remains. This consists of a sub-circular sectioned D-shaped attachment loop that is situated beneath a triangular ‘skirt’ that comes down over the loop to the front and back. At each side the skirt ‘flicks-up’ rather like a jesters hat. There are a number of these types of terrets known from Norfolk including the examples from Beighton and Tatterset (31569 and HER 33975). 44.61g, 45.75mm L x 32.50mm H x 28.28mm H

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

 

Very unusual Romano/British bronze key with rounded finial handle - one for the museum

10.56g, 31.30mm L x 12.00mm dia

Bronze piece decorated on all 4 sides - possible Roman writing stylus

It's a wrist Torc but what time period ?? 23.19g, 81.95mm W x 3.80mm dia

Initial feedback is it could be Roman - reported as treasure and will go for examination by the museum - returned as modern copy

Roman military suspension loop with 2 rivet fixing
Roman Military piece - Lugged baldric mount
   
   

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

1st to 4thC Roman bronze seal ring
Early plain bronze ring - shows lamination like a Roman ring but it probably Medieval - one for the museum
2ndC Roman bronze fibula brooch
Roman miiltary mount with red enamelling remaining single integral fixing
Roman miiltary mount with single integral fixing
Roman bronze helmet trim
Roman bronze helmet trim
Roman bronze dagger pomel
Roman bronze dagger guard or quillion 24.27g, 36.91mm L x 13.41mm W x 12.72 H

 

Previously thought to be 10thC Saxon with the classic circle decoration - currently with Colchester museum - ID'd as Roman period

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

4.73g, 26.71mm L x 12.57mm W

Roman - Cast copper alloy buckle tongue with half of it's loop broken. File marks are evident on the sides and underside. Three incised lines decorate a raised rectangle at the base of the loop - Ref Bishop 186
Small 1st to 4th C Roman bronze knife quillion - 14.35mm W 13.66mm H x 10.26mm T
3rd C Roman spear butt – Osterburken type Ref Coulston - Drawing Roman 3rdC spear butts
Roman 'heart' mount Ref Laycock
Roman Open looped dolphin buckle Ref Laycock
Roman prick spur fragment
Roman Baldric phalerae
Roman military Pelta mount
Roman bronze artefact 35.8g, 36.46mm W x 14.73mm H - votive offering pots
Roman bronze clevis pin ? 30.82mm L x 6.68mm dia 12.98g
Roman harness loop junction - 2 rivet fixing
Roman 'Delos' buckle frame
3rd C Roman 'Newstead' type lorica tie loop
Fragment of a Romano-British protected loop terret.22.99g, 38.53mm W x 34.56mm H x 15.78 mm T
Roman bronze pot fragment
Huge Roman bronze pot foot
Roman prick spur fragment
Fragment of a Romano-British protected loop terret.
Bronze age harness ring
Roman oval mount with suspension loop
Possible Roman bronze ring

Roman rolled lead curse ?

Roman bronze pot foot
Romano/British bronze bead
Roman bronze buckle tongue
2nd C Roman dolphin closed loop buckle fragment

Stunning 1st/2nd C trumpet type Roman blue and yellow enameled fibula brooch

5.32g, 26.05mm L x 10.48mm W

Roman 1st/2ndC copper alloy votive offering

7.63g, 39.43mm H x 5.09mm T

Roman Bronze chisle head 31.32g, 25.91mm L x 29.12mm W x 11.61mm T
Roman buckle tongue
Roman open looped buckle fragment
Interesting 2nd C Roman latch key set up
Small Roman bronze piece - almost like a fibular but not - needs more research
Roman bronze serpent headed dagger pommel 23.18mm L x 11.88mm T, 17.82g
Copper alloy pouring bowl - possible Roman
   
Roman bronze knife pommel