FIGURINE

Description:

A small incomplete ceramic figurine. The artefact weighs 9.5g, has an incomplete height of 44.8mm, maximum width is 18.5mm and maximum thickness is 14.0mm.

The figurine is shown standing upright with the legs straight and together and the arms close to the side of the body bending forwards slightly from the elbow so that the hands rest just to the front of the upper thighs. The figurine was molded and a mould line can be clearly seen along the mid-line of both sides, over the arms and legs, and below the feet. Some damage has occured resulting in the loss of the head and the front half of one foot, the figurine's right foot. The hands are poorly formed almost as if they might have been designed to vanish into absent pockets. The fleshy legs and tummy have led to some speculation as to whether this was a purposeful attempt to represent fecundity. The clay has been fired in a relatively reduced atmosphere, the figurine having a dark brown to dark grey reduced body that becomes more oxidised, showing as a reddish orange, in the lower legs and particularly the ankle of the missing foot.

Initial discussion:

It has not been possible to securely date this artefact. The figurine recorded in PAS record BERK-20A867 seems to be extremely similar to this example. BERK-20A867 has been dated as Roman with the suggestion of a 2nd century AD date (See bibliographic references given in the BERK-20A867 record). However both Sally Worrell and Ralph Jackson assert that this example is definitely not a Roman figurine. This definite opinion has raised debate regarding the dating for BERK-20A867. Attempts to find a confirmed date within a different dating period is ongoing but currently no conclusive results have been found. Suggestions for a Post-Medieval (AD 1540-1900) date have been put forward based on the use of moulds for the manufacture of clay tobacco pipes.

Also see Taylor, A. A Roman lead coffin with pipeclay figurines from Arrington. Report 72. Interim Report. 1992 [pages 5-9 in the Specialists Report: Pipeclay figurines, by Miranda Green.

It is interesting to note that approximately 620 to 770 metres away from the find spot of CAM-3D41F9 Albion Archaeology excavated a Roman temple and burial ground. If this figurine was of a Roman date the representation of fecundity would not be out of place in a shrine or temple context.

It is important to remember that both CAM-3D41F9 and BERK-20A867 were found as stray surface finds. An uncertain date will remain for both of these artefacts until examples from securely dated sealed stratigraphic deposits are found.

Later discussion - update:

Following extensive research by Dr Helen Geake into Post-Medieval ceramic dolls this artefact has been identified as a 'Frozen Charlotte'. These were a form of ceramic toy doll dating post AD1840. See NLM-0AC196.