STAFF

Cast copper alloy end cap from a wooden staff or pole. The cap is cylindrical with one end closed by a flat cap and one open. 50% of the rim of the open end is lost to old breaks. Near the open end, on opposite sides, are two round holes, presumably to hold rivets which would rivet the cap onto a woodern pole; one is incomplete due to old breaks. Half way between the holes is a loop which projects from the side of the cylinder; it is roughly rectangular with rounded corners and 10.5mm long by 7.6mm wide by 3.5mm thick. Opposite this loop the edge is broken but the area below the break suggests there was not a loop, or at least not as large a loop on the broken side. The outside is decorated with raised collars, a single one at the end, then another single one, then a triple one level with the lower end of the loopand then another single one at the open end forming a slight rim. It is 15.4mm in diameter, 20.65mm long, 2.2mm thick, including the collars and weighs 11.27 grams. No direct parallel for this item could be found in the usual sources. The form and rivet holes suggest an end cap for a wooden pole to which a cord could be tied through the loop. The patina and decoration may suggest a late Iron Age or Roman date but this is not certain and it could be more recent. Staff fittings were found at the Roman temple site of Wanborough, although decorated with similar raised rings they are much larger and more neatly finished than this example and none have a similar side loop (O'Connell and Bird, no.11-21, p.108-114).