Rights Holder: West Berkshire
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Unique ID: BERK-4642D7
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A Roman copper alloy anthropomorphic terminal, probably from a toilet article (AD 1st - 2nd century). The terminal has been cast to form a human head modelled three-dimensionally. There are incised lines to represent hair, a raised bar for the nose and depressions to mark the eyes and the mouth. Beneath the head is a diagonal groove and then a raised band with transverse incised lines, possibly to represent a necklace or ornament. There are the remains of a small loop, orientated vertically, on the back of the head. At the junction between the moulded head and the shaft is a raised beaded band. The shaft then tapers from 7.78mm to 4.00mm where it is broken. The break has the same mid green patina as the rest of the surface suggesting the damage occurred in antiquity. The loss of the end means that it is difficult to determine if this object was a nail cleaner or a toilet knife. The decoration is similar to a nail cleaner found in Norton, Northamptonshire (NARC-733D28).
Dimensions: length: 33.86mm; diameter: 7.78mm; weight: 7.81g.
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Current location of find: Returned to finder.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: ROMAN
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: ROMAN
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: AD 43
Date to: AD 200
Quantity: 1
Length: 33.86 mm
Weight: 7.71 g
Diameter: 7.78 mm
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Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.
Find number: BH-DB8083
Object type: TOILET ARTICLE
Broadperiod: ROMAN
A fragment of a copper-alloy Roman nail cleaner.
The piece represents the top of the nail cleaner. It takes the form of a heavily stylised,…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: HESH-113B98
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broadperiod: ROMAN
Cast copper alloy nail cleaner of Grooved Collar Type, broadly dated to the Roman period: mid-late 3rd to 4th century AD. The nail cleaner is…
Workflow: Published
Find number: NARC-733D28
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broadperiod: ROMAN
A beautiful example of a cast copper-alloy Roman nail cleaner. The object is 55 mm in length. The head of the article is actually designed as…
Workflow: Awaiting validation