Rights Holder: Birmingham Museums Trust
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: WMID-AB53B9
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
An incomplete cast copper alloy ear scoop of Roman dating circa AD 43 toAD 410.
The ear scoop comprises a circular sectioned long shank. One end of the ear scoop has an oval shaped concave bowl. This end has been bent. The other end has a rounded terminal. This end terminal is decorated with circumferential ribs, cast in light relief. The ear scoop is a mid-green to dark brown colour, with an even surface patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of some of the original surface detail.
Ear scoops / nail cleaners of this type are typically considered to be Roman in dating, but this style of cosmetic article continues in use until the Post Medieval period. See Crummy (1983) page 60 for similarly illustrated toilet articles. The PAS database also has similar examples (YORYM-486783) discovered in Yorkshire and CORN-D183AE in Dorset.
The ear scoop measures 56.03mm in length, 6.83mm wide and 3.67mm thick. It weighs 3.1g.
Crummy, N. (1983) The Roman Small Finds from excavations in Colchester 1971-9. Colchester Archaeological Report 2. Colchester Archaeological Trust. Colchester.
Notes:
This object was discovered in the same field as two Roman brooches.
Class: flat spool neck (Group).
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 43
Date to: Circa AD 410
Quantity: 1
Length: 56.03 mm
Width: 6.83 mm
Thickness: 3.67 mm
Weight: 3.1 g
This information is restricted for your access level.
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
4 Figure: SO8381
Four figure Latitude: 52.42671634
Four figure longitude: -2.25143455
1:25K map: SO8381
1:10K map: SO88SW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.