MOUNT

A fragment of a copper-alloy object, possibly a mount dating to the Roman period depicting a boar. The fragment, although heavily corroded, comprises the front portion of the animal, with the head, ridged back and legs rendered in the three dimensions. Only a small part of the left leg survives; the right leg exists as a scar. Both sides of the boar's body are decorated with diagonal grooves, perhaps intended to represent hair. Unlike other similar boar figurines this example is cast solid, with the body almost triangular in cross-section. The boar measures 26mm in length, 16mm in height and the body has a maximum width of 6mm. It weighs 5.86g.

Miranda Green writes, 'Boar figurines are relatively common from the middle to later Iron Age. Some of them may be helmet crests or standard-fittings rather than statuettesIron Age boar figurines display this characteristic dorsal crest', (Green, M, 1998, p152). Barry Cunliffe writes, 'it is quite probable many of the little bronze boar figures from Britain once adorned helmets to afford wearers some symbolic protection', (Cunliffe, B, 2009, p490). Boars from the 1st century BC are known from Hounslow which stood on a convex base, probably a helmet (ibid).

Boar mounts of Early Medieval date are also known such as on the Benty Grange helmet http://www.idigsheffield.org.uk/object.asp?ref=J93_1189 .

A similar small bronze boar mount found in Eastcheap, London of late Iron Age to early Roman date can be found herehttp://collections.museumoflondon.org.uk/online/object/4532.html