BOX

An incomplete copper alloy Roman lion-headed stud in the form of a stylised lion. It is circular in plan, pyramidal in section and with a hollow back face. The lowest part of the stud is undecorated and slopes steeply upwards. Above this there is a small, inclined platform or lip followed by a band of multiple transverse engraved lines that represent the lion's mane. This is followed by a more pronounced central circular projection on to which there are two incised dots surrounded by semi-circular incised lines to represent the lion's eyes, as well as transverse band of incised dots and grooves representing the mouth. Finally, the central projection, which is triangular in plan, symbolises the nose. This has a central dot with incised diagonal lines below. The reverse of the mount is hollow and is missing the central rivet due to old breaks. This example measures 24.61mm in diameter at the base, 16.96mm in height, and weighs 12.91g.

Mounts or studs in the form of lion's heads have been noted at a number of locations in Suffolk (e.g. SF-0096E3, SF-5AC647, SF-7A9D56, SF-8842 and SF-8319). They would have originally be attached to decorative wooden cremation caskets, such as examples noted in Essex (ESS-1AAD74) and at Skeleton Green (Partridge, 1981: pp. 312-316). Their usage is believed to represent the devouring power of death and the lion's head motif appears frequently on provincial Roman funerary monuments (Partridge, 1981: pp. 315). These examples are dated to the first or second centuries AD.