VESSEL

An incomplete cast copper-alloy handle from a vessel of possible Roman date. The top of the handle where it joins the rim of the vessel survives intact, the remainder of the object now missing due to old breaks. It is rectangular in form, oval shaped in section, expanding towards the rim of the vessel where it is triangular in form. A transverse groove is visible on the inner edge of the vessel end, indicative of the means of attachment to the vessel. The surviving fragment curves to an angle of 90 degrees, where it terminates in old breaks. All exterior surfaces are extremely worn, however on the front face of the shoulder there are the remains of moulded relief decoration. This comprises a central decorative motif that is pointed-oval shaped and convex in form, and is slightly ambiguous but appears to be anthropomorphic or zoomorphic in nature. At the pointed, vessel end of the moulding there is a curved transverse band with evenly spaced vertical lines creating a band of small squares as if delineating the base of a hat or similar item. Beneath this are pointed oval shaped eyes with possible diagonal eyebrows, a sub-triangular nose and transverse rectangular groove for mouth. Alternatively, if the handle is viewed the opposite way around it might be interpreted as a stylised lion's head with oval eyes, triangular snout and mouth/mane at the transverse band of squares. Further down the handle from the eyes are a series of two vertical rectangular grooves creating three vertical rectangular panels, the exterior two panels decorated with transverse grooves, the central panel with a small central oval or rectangular shaped motif. These terminate towards the base of the surviving fragment with a transverse groove, any decoration below this uncertain due to post-depositional wear and old breaks. Traces of a mid green.brown patina are visible in places, but the object has suffered from extensive post-depositional corrosion resulting in pitting and pale green deposits, as well as possible evidence of burning or exposure to high termperature (sooting?). It measures 41.39mm in length, 47.95mm in width (at vessel end, 20.63mm at handle), 12.14mm in thickness at shoulder (9.05mm at handle), and 85.26g in weight.

This is a substantial, decorative cast copper-alloy handle fragment. The moulded decorative element is slightly ambiguous in form, but may represent a facing lion positioned with its mouth at the rim of the vessel, or alternatively a more anthropomorphic figure. In either case, it is likely the handle was attached to the rim at the groove, which suggests that the vessel was a jug (oinochoe) or similar form rather than a dish or patera. Similar handles are noted on the PAS database (e.g. FAKL-58F455), with perhaps the clearest example from North Lincolnshire (SWYOR-E54DB2, with references and parallels). These indicate the handle is likely to be of Roman date, c.43-410 AD.