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PENDANT
Unique ID: LVPL-A40A40
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
Silver pendant, ovoid, with a circular attachment loop at the top. The reverse has five circular perforations arranged in the form of a cross. The pendant is set with an orange carnelian intaglio; it depicts a fallen soldier wearing a gladiatorial helmet, facing to the right; he holds a shield towards a large feline, probably a panther, which is rearing up at him.
Comment: For a parallel, cf P.Zazoff (ed), Antike Gemmen in Deutschen Sammlungen.IV Hannover, Kestner-Museum (Wiesbaden 1975), p.203 and Taf.136 no.1015 (Martin Henig, pers. comm.)
Date: the gem probably dates to the first century BC, but the setting is likely to be rather later, late Roman or early Medieval.
L.: 18.1mm W.: 11.0mm Thickness: 2.4mm Wt.: 1.10g
Note: this item is more than 300 years old and composed of more than 10% precious metal so qualifies as treasure as stipulated in the Treasure Act 1996.
Dr Richard Hobbs
Weston Curator of Roman Britain, Britain, Europe & Prehistory, The British Museum
3rd June 2016
Evidence of reuse: Late Roman or early Medieval silver setting
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Grosvenor Museum
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2015T800
Chronology
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa 100 BC
Date to: Circa AD 100
Period of reuse: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 18 mm
Width: 10.5 mm
Thickness: 5 mm
Weight: 1.1 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 6th September 2015 - Tuesday 6th October 2015
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Treasure case number: 2015T800
Materials and construction
Primary material: Silver
Secondary material: Gem
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Figurative
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Incised or engraved or chased
Spatial metadata
Region: North West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Cheshire West and Chester (Unitary Authority)
District: Cheshire West and Chester (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Farndon
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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