MOUNT

A cast lead lion's head (diameter: 35.9mm; thickness: 2.9mm; weight: 67.03g). All of the lion's facial features are clearly visible with round ringlets bearing incised lines to mark the mane around the face, two distinctly prominent curved eyebrows, two large annulet eyes as well as a large protruding nose (which makes the thickness of the artfact as wide as it is) with mouth underneath. There is slight iron corrosion on the nose and part of the mane. The back of the artefact is uneven but mostly flat with no decoration. There is a fair amount of iron corrosion on the back, possibly indicating a fitting or attachment , particularly if this was used as a type of mount. The artefact is in a slightly worn but fair condition with a dark grey/ green patina.

A similar bronze lion's head mount is illustrated in Barry Cunliffe's 'Excavations at Fishbourne: Volume II: The Finds', 1971, page 117-8, fig 48, ref no 125). This terminal had 'originally been attached by means of an iron shank set into it, but only the much-corroded stump survives'. Another example is illustrated in Bushe-Fox's 'Fourth Report on the Excavations of the Roman Fort at Richborough, Kent', 1949, plate XLIV & page 139, Ref no 168, which has been dated between c. 275-300 AD.