STUD

An incomplete copper alloy mount of Roman date, c.AD 43 - 410. The mount comprises a circular hollow dish with a conical projection extending from the centre which terminates in a central depression. The projection is set within a raised border-like band located halfway between the cone and the edge of the outer rim of the dish which is flat.

The reverse of the object is convex with a wide, flat topped circular base projecting from the centre. The remains of a square sectioned shaft are present at the centre of the base.

The metal has a mid-green patina and is abraded with a large crack present in the surface of the dish. The mount is 30.4mm in diameter, 17.6m thick and weighs 17g.

Similar mounts have been recorded on the PAS database as: WILT-83E961, DUR-8582B5, SWYOR-A6E007 and LANCUM-BF20B3.

Bell-shaped studs are a multi-purpose form of artefact, commonly found on sites dating to the Roman period. The key difference from other Roman studs, nails and fittings is the circular countersunk or convex face, which usually has at its centre a boss or cone.

While their exact purpose is not fully understood, they are believed to have been used, for example, on furniture, doors, and caskets, such as the bronze box-plate from Walheim Germany (Allason-Jones and McKay 1985, 30). It is noted that unless found in-situ, or as part of a set, it is rarely possible to attribute the stud to a specific purpose (Allason-Jones 2011, 8-9). Often found in association with northern frontier forts, the studs are known to be in use from the 1st to 4th centuries AD.

Refs:

Allason-Jones, L. (2011) Artefacts in Roman Britain: Their Purpose and Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Allason-Jones, L. and McKay, B. (1985) Coventina's Well: A Shrine on Hadrian’s Wall. Trustees of the Clayton Collection Chesters Museum, Hexham.