HOARD

Description:

The contents of a Roman period grave, including cremated human bone and associated grave goods, mainly of glass and metal.

The initial discovery was that of a copper-alloy jug, found in January 2014, 10 metres to the south of the spot where the grave was later uncovered. This item had been dragged from the grave, probably by ploughing.

The grave itself was discovered in October of the same year, when parts of two further copper-alloy jugs, a patera and various other pieces of metalwork were found by the metal-detectorist.

Excavation of the grave site occurred in late October/early November and revealed a broadly rectangular cut, its longest axis aligned roughly east to west. A number of unworked flint nodules had been placed up against the sides of the grave, forming a low wall; a layer of such stones also covered the grave's contents and this feature probably represented a collapsed wall or cairn. The damaged condition of most of the grave goods was probably the result of a number of factors, including the collapse of the stone structure, the weight of the soil and the subsequent agricultural use of the site. A 20^th century land drain had also been cut across the upper fill of the grave, although this appears to have missed all of the artefacts.

Summary of contents:

3 x copper-alloy jugs

1 x copper-alloy patera

4 x copper-alloy corner bindings from a tray

1x iron lamp and associated wall bracket

Quantity of iron nails, possibly from grave lining

Quantity of iron hobnails and two iron fittings, representing remains of a pair of shoes or boots

7 x copper-alloy fittings/vessel fragments

1 x silver denarius of Trajan

3 x 2^nd century copper-alloy coins

5 x glass bottles

Fragmentary remains of 2-3 glass cups

2 x polychrome glass dishes

A quantity of cremated human bone

The arrangement of the grave:

The fragments of cremated bone, plus the three copper-alloy coins, were contained within the largest of the five glass bottles, a vessel of hexagonal cross section. The cremation vessel and four other glass bottles were in a closely confined group at the western end of the grave, possibly within a small flint-lined chamber.

The tray, copper-alloy vessels, two polychrome glass dishes, glass cups and the silver coin of Trajan had all been placed adjacent to the glass bottles, on their eastern side. Immediately to the north of this group were the lamp and its bracket, with the hobnail boots having been laid at the eastern end of the grave, one on top of the other. The other fragments were recovered from unspecified locations within the grave fill or from the excavated spoil.

Catalogue

Copper-alloy Jug 1

Cast body, with applied base and handle.

Heavily damaged condition, broken into three main pieces - the body, neck and handle.

The jug appears to have been pear-shaped, with the handle originally applied to the neck by means of a now-missing metal strap. The flat base consists of a circle of copper-alloy sheet which was made separately and applied by the application of solder to its rim. Lightly incised grooves decorate the neck, with a repoussée band at the top having formed a seat for the handle strap. The neck also displays possible evidence of repair.

The solid-cast handle is of elongated 'S' shape, broken at the top, with a moulded thumb rest, decorative grooves and a fan-shaped base plate with incised palm frond decoration and an inverted-triangular arrangement of three rivet holes.

An unidentified off-white substance adheres to the inner surface of the neck.

Dimensions

Body

Height: c. 140 mm; width at top: 160 mm; diameter of base: 124 mm; thickness of vessel wall: 1.8 mm. Weight (soil-filled): 2087 g.

Neck

Height: c. 155 mm; width: 160 mm wide; approximate diameter of neck (damaged): 50 mm. Weight: 170.21 g.

Handle

Length: 127 mm; width of footplate: 36.5 mm; depth: 35.8 mm. Weight: 115.44 g.

Copper-alloy Jug 2

Made of three separately cast and formerly joined elements, now separated from one another.

The base and foot section, now damaged, resembles a pedestal cup. At the top, there is a lid seat for the neck section. The circular foot has a central circular moulding on its underside, surrounded by a deep groove.

The neck is of sub-conical form, with a projecting lip at the base, pinched 'hourglass' rim and internal evidence of turning.

The top of the handle takes the form of the head, neck and forelegs of a stag, moulded in three dimensions. The legs form a C-shaped socket with recessed underside, allowing the handle to fit the top of the back part of the jug's rim. When in situ, the head overhangs the opening in the jug; the antlers follow the curvature of the neck, their surfaces raised slightly above it. A forward-facing human mask wearing a Phrygian cap faces outwards from a shield-shaped base plate. From above this head extends upwards a pair of converging grooves with internal lozenge.

Traces of a white metal solder adhere to the undersides both of this plate and of the curved rim attachment.

Dimensions

Neck

Height: 46.4 mm; diameter at base: 78.4 mm; front to back of rim: 62.9 mm; width of rim: 47.3 mm. Weight: 167.27 g.

Base and foot

Height: 80.9 mm; diameter at top (remaining): 81.4 mm. Weight of remaining pieces: 226.69 g (n.b. There are several additional fragments contained within the soil from inside the jug, which have yet to be sorted).

Handle

Length: 88.8 mm; width at top: 49.7 mm; width at base plate: 25.9 mm. Weight: 99.43 g.

Total height of jug (reconstructed): 141.6 mm.

Copper-alloy Jug 3

Complete copper-alloy jug with detached handle.

A broadly pear-shaped vessel, the top flaring into a right-angled rim, the circular base having a series of concentric moulded grooves and ridges on its concave underside.

Approximately halfway down the body is an area of white metal solder, marking the point at which the base of the handle was attached.

The deeply bowed handle is profusely decorated with relief-moulded designs. At the top, the necks and heads of two bird-like creatures form a C-shaped socket, allowing the handle to fit the rim of the vessel. Each bird has an incised beak and eye, the latter of which contains a ring-shaped setting of silver wire. Acanthus leaves project forward from the top of the handle, dividing the two birds and overhanging the rim of the jug. A pair of tendrils also projects outwards on either side, the uppermost abutting the back of the bird's neck.

A moulded transverse band is located just below the apex of the handle, separating the acanthus leaves from a scene in which a winged figure sits beneath a vine, facing left, his right hand extended. A basket hangs from a branch above him.

Dividing this figure from the sub-oval base plate is what appears to be an altar with a basket of offerings upon it. The base plate is decorated with the image of a winged figure wearing a straw hat, who stands leaning to the left, apparently digging with a spade. A slender tree with pear-shaped canopy is located in the left-hand area of the scene's background, with what appears to be bushes to the left of the figure.

Dimensions

Vessel

Height: c. 195 mm; maximum width: c. 110 mm; diameter of base: 75.1 mm; diameter of rim: 75.73 mm. Weight (containing soil): 1227.5 g.

Handle

Length: 132.7 mm; width (top): 75.4 mm; depth of bow: c. 63 mm. Weight: 194.32 g.

Total height of reconstructed jug: c. 200 mm.

Patera

A copper-alloy patera, comprising heavily damaged bowl and detached handle.

The circular bowl has near-vertical sides and an umbonate centre, the hollow underside of which is decorated by a series of concentric grooves and ridges around a button-like moulding with concave surface. A footring surrounds this hollow.

The fluted, sub-cylindrical handle has a terminal in the form of an upward-facing Medusa mask. At the inner end is a damaged attachment plate with winged lion mask on the underside. An opening in the upper surface of this plate reveals that the handle was cast hollow and then filled with lead.

Dimensions

Bowl

Diameter: 187 mm; depth: c. 40 mm. Weight: 472.8 g. (minus other probable fragments).

Handle

Length: 139.36 mm; width (attachment plate): 79.6 mm; diameter of handle: 17 mm; width of mask: 23.2 mm.

Iron lamp and wall bracket

The iron lamp has an open, broadly oval chamber with flat bottom and vertical sides. A narrower, sub-circular spout projects forwards at the front of this chamber, and a curved backplate extends upwards into a strap-like hanger (broken), which overhangs the chamber and terminates in a downward-pointing crescentic plate.

An iron spigot, contained within a perforation at the top of the lamp's hanger, represents part of an attachment from the base of the wall bracket. This bracket comprises a straight rod with rectangular cross section and hooked top. The remainder of the looped attachment is contained within a loop at the base of the bracket.

Dimensions

Lamp

Length: c. 180 mm; height (reconstructed): c. 180 mm. Width of chamber: 120 mm. Weight: 819.3 g.

Hanger

Length: 290 mm; width: 35.1 mm. Weight: 153.74 g.

Hobnail boots/shoes

Recovered with soil and still to be sorted. The hobnails are short and have bulbous heads. Their arrangement, in two layers, indicated a pair of boots, laid one on top of the other. Associated with each shoe was an iron fitting in the form of a flat-sectioned figure-of-eight, with an iron rivet in each of the two holes.

Iron nails/fixings

At least five nail-like fixings, with T-shaped heads. Almost certainly hand-forged nails.

Lengths: c. 60 to 110 mm.

Bag of copper-alloy fittings/vessel fragments

Five irregular fragments, possibly associated with the metal vessels. Two with irregular perforations for rivets; two are probably fragments from the base of jug 1. Additionally, one thicker piece of copper-alloy sheet and two Roman copper-alloy fittings, described below:

Fitting 1:

Solid-cast copper-alloy finial with bulbous base, tapering into a neck and flaring at the top, where there is a moulded ring. At the base, there is a projecting rim with flat underside, at the centre of which is the corroded remnant of an iron shaft.

Length: 25.7 mm; width: 18.5 mm. Weight: 24.99 g.

Fitting 2:

Solid-cast, sub-cylindrical, baluster-moulded form. Incomplete, with remains of transverse perforation at wider end.

Length: 27.5 mm; width: 11.4 mm. Weight: 13.52 g.

Tray

Four fragmentary sheet copper-alloy corner bindings from a tray. Each binding is L-shaped, its top and bottom edges folded inwards at 90 degrees. Three copper-alloy rivets with spherical heads have been used to secure the two main faces of each binding, and many of these rivets survive in situ.

One of these bindings retains traces of the wooden tray. This binding measures 55.7 mm long, x 51.3 mm wide, 34.6 mm high and 0.6 mm thick.

Coins

Coin 1:

A silver denarius of Trajan, dating to the period AD 103-111 (Reece period 5). COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC reverse depicting Victory standing left on a pile of shields, half draped, holding wreath and palm. Mint of Rome. RIC II, p. 253, no. 129. Slightly worn.

Diameter: 19.3 mm; thickness: 2.1 mm. Weight: 2.9 g.

Obverse: Laureate head right, drapery over left shoulder.

(IMP) TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P

Reverse: Victory standing left on pile of shields, half draped, holding wreath and palm.

COS V P P [S]PQR OPTIMO PRINC

Die axis: 6 o'clock.

Coin 2 (Small find no. 32):

A copper-alloy As, probably of Marcus Aurelius and dating to the period AD 174-175 (Reece period 8). Probably IMP VII COS III S C reverse depicting Tiber reclining left, resting right hand on boat. Mint of Rome. Probably RIC III, p. 303, no. 1144.

Obverse: Laureate (head/bust) right.

[M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXIX]

Reverse: (Tiber reclining left, resting right hand on boat.)

[IMP VII COS III S C]

Coin 3 (Small find no. 35):

A copper-alloy dupondius of Hadrian, dating to the period AD 117-138 (Reece period 6). Uncertain reverse and mint.

Obverse: Radiate head right.

]HADRI[ANVS

Reverse: Standing figure.

Illegible.

Coin 4 (Small find no. 36):

A copper-alloy As or dupondius of Hadrian, dating to the period AD 117-138 (Reece period 6). Uncertain reverse and mint.

Obverse: Head right.

IMP C[AESAR TRAI]ANVS [HADRIANVS

Reverse: Standing figure.

Illegible.

Glass Bottle 1 (cremation vessel)

Clear blue/green glass bottle of hexagonal cross section with wide rim and neck and an angular reeded handle. There is much damage to neck and upper body. The base is decorated by three concentric moulded rings, with six arcs inside the largest ring, forming a six-pointed star. There is evidence of wear on the base.

Diameter of rim: 125 mm; width of base: 250 mm; height: in excess of 300 mm. Weight: at least 4 kg.

Glass Bottle 2

Clear blue/green glass bottle with square cross section and tall, narrow form. The base design is that of a cross within a square border.

Height (restored): 216 mm; rim diameter: 40 mm; base: 70 x 70 mm. Weight: at least 600 g.

Glass Bottle 3

Clear blue/green glass bottle. Heavily damaged bottle of similar form and dimensions to bottle no. 2. The base design is a maker's mark 'IΛƧ' (for IAS), surrounded by a square.

Dimensions of base: 76 x 76 mm.

Glass Bottle 4

Clear blue/green glass bottle. Damaged bottle of rectangular cross section. It has a wide mouth and two angular handles with three ridges. The raised base design has a circle at the centre and a rectangular border. There is some wear on the base.

Height (restored): 210 mm; diameter of rim: 62 mm; base dimensions: 130 x 80 mm. Weight: more than 1 kg.

Glass Bottle 5

Clear blue/green glass bottle. Damaged bottle with octagonal cross section, wide rim and two angular handles with three ridges. The base design is a long oval inside an octagonal border. The bottle is worn on both the body and base, especially at the edges.

Diameter of rim: 110 mm; height to shoulder: just under 200 mm; base dimensions: 220 x 100 mm. Weight: at least 1.65 kg.

Glass cups

A quantity of clear glass fragments from straight-sided cups. Parts of two separately blown bases survive, but no rim fragments are present. In addition, there were two dark blue ribbon handles, possibly from a third vessel.

Pair of polychrome glass dishes

A pair of matching polychrome dishes, found in a fragmentary state but, apart from a small chip, complete. The dishes have simple rims (uneven), shallow bodies and flat bases. The glass sheets were formed by fusing together polychrome cane sections containing strands of opaque white, opaque red, opaque blue, opaque yellow and dark purple glass. The squares are arranged to give the impression of successive diamond-shaped rings in contrasting colours expanding from a central point. The distorted nature of the original lozenge patterns suggests that the glass is likely to have been remoulded from earlier objects.

Diameter of each dish: 145 mm.

Discussion:

Preliminary study of the grave goods, particularly the square glass bottle, indicates that this burial probably occurred during the first two decades of the 3^rd century AD. It is one of a series of richly adorned cremation burials of similar date found in the area to the north of the Thames, particularly in Essex and Hertfordshire. A notable example is the burial at Turners Hall Farm Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire (see Treasure Annual Report 2003: 28-37).

The burial contents qualifies as Treasure because of the presence of the inlaid silver eyes on jug no. 3, which should be treated as individual, associated objects (see footnote 1 to paragraph 6 of The Treasure Act 1996 Code of Practice (Revised) for guidance in this respect). The silver eyes fulfil the criteria for Treasure under The Treasure Act 1996 in that it they are more than 300 years old and have a precious metal content exceeding 10%; the rest of jug 3 is therefore Treasure by association, as are the other artefacts within the grave.

Julian Watters

Finds Liaison Officer, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire

16.3.16

With reports on glass vessels compiled from descriptions provided by Sally Cottam and Jennifer Price.

Coin identifications and other contributions from Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews.