BUTTON AND LOOP FASTENER

A complete copper-alloy Roman button and loop fastener of Wild Class III, dating c.AD 43-200. The button and loop fastener is of the single headed variety and exhibits a teardrop shaped head decorated with a lenticular moulding at the apex of the point. A large circular aperture is situated in the curve of the teardrop. An integrally cast oval cross-sectioned shank extends at 90 degrees from the apex of the curve, the rounded terminal of which extends into the aperture and joins the rim of the head. The other end of the shank bends again at 90 degrees, becomes square in cross section, and splits into two arms to form a triangular attachment loop. The reverse of the head is concave and undecorated. A green patina is on the surface.

The button and loop fastener measures 44.82mm in length, 16.79mm in width at the widest part of the triangular loop,18.35mm at the head, 9.71mm in thickness including head and shank, and weighs 9.71g.

This is similar to Wild's (1970) Class III (p.39, fig. 1).

Downes and Griffiths (2017) in 50 Finds from Yorkshire state: 'Button and loop fasteners are perhaps best interpreted as multi-purpose fasteners for use with harness equipment as well as clothing. They are thought to be military objects, though the PAS examples tend to be found on rural sites not specifically related to military activity.'