Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
CC License:
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Unique ID: SOM-F64E5A
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A copper alloy zoomorphic probable mount, likely of Roman date, c. AD 43-410. The mount is cast into the form of a stylised 3-dimentional depiction of a sitting bird, possibly a duck. The wings of the bird are sub-triangular in plan, tapering from 12.3mm at the front to a rounded and abraded tip around 6.5mm wide, and with a shallow triangular cross section. The top of the wings are decorated by broad chevrons of alternating incised and pecked lines, pointing towards the tail. From the flat underside of the wings expands the body of the bird, semi-circular when viewed from the front and 7.1mm wide. In profile the body thickens from the tail to a maximum of 4.7mm from where it curves around forming the chest and leading into the neck, where it projects slightly infront of the front of the wings. Aligned longitudinally along the base of the body is a sub-rectangular strip with a very irregular surface, possibly the point at which it was affixed to something. From the top of the wings expands the neck and head of the bird, sub-triangular in plan and profile, 11.5mm long and 6.8mm wide at the front. The rear of the neck expands from the wings 10.3mm from the tip of the tail, at an angle of just over 90 degrees. From here is expands upwards in a gradually curving line to a height of 13.1mm and curves around into a short hooked beak, the head being 8.6mm long in line with the tip of the beak and 4.0mm wide. Either lateral face of the neck is decorated with incised lines forming a zig-zag pattern, and with a pecked line following the curve at the front of the neck, and with a corresponding line on the front face, but which is otherwise plain. They eyes are depicted with an incised ring and dot.
Overall the object is 21.5mm high, 22.6mm long and 12.3mm wide; it weighs: 9.06g.
The irregular section on the bottom of this figurine would suggest that originally the object expanded further or, more likely, was affixed to a larger object. Similar zoomorphic bird figurines are typically dated to the Roman period and are often found as pin heads (e.g. WMID-F7B120), vessel mounts (e.g. NLM-AC0EA8) as well as strap fittings (e.g. SOM-0C1191).
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: 22.6 mm
Height: 21.5 mm
Width: 12.3 mm
Weight: 9.06 g
Date(s) of discovery: Friday 1st January 2016 - Saturday 26th November 2016
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Other reference: SCC receipt: 019057
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.