FIGURINE

A cast copper alloy head, of probable late Iron Age date. It measures 19.26mm in height, 14.90mm ear to ear and weighs 17.18g. It may have once formed part of a small figurine. The head has uneven hollow eyes with defined semi-circular brows above and a straight nose. The ears are low and D-shaped, defined by a semi-circle to the rear and hollowed inside. The mouth is an assymmetric upturned crescent shape and the chin tapers to a rounded point, giving the face an almond shape overall. The top and back of the head has been engraved with twelve concentric swirls, to give the impression of close-cropped hair. These are off-centre, starting from behind the right ear. The short neck, which measures 8.31mm by 7.40mm in diameter, is filled with another metal, probably iron as is suggested by its brownish red colour. The copper alloy has a dark greenish patina. Martin Henig (pers. comm.) commented that this object has no Roman features and it is basically a late Iron Age piece: "It is a very fine example of an Iron Age male head with prominent eyes and nose and mask-like features and with its crown covered by an attractive swirl of hair. It is one of the most striking heads of that date to have been found to date in Britain."