Rights Holder: York Museums Trust
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Unique ID: YORYM-83B977
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
A copper alloy button and loop fastener dating to the Roman period (AD 50 - AD 200).
The head of the fastener is flat and teardrop shaped. It is decorated with a chequered design, alternating between squares of red and yellow enamel. The shank extends straight down from the reverse of the head, and bends at 90 degrees before forming a triangular attachment loop. The orientation of the shank results in the head and loop being on different planes.
The metal is worn and dark brown in colour. The fastener is 41.2 mm long, 16.6 mm wide, and 5.2 mm thick. It weighs 8.0 g.
Roman button and loop fasteners have been classified by Wild (1970), although this example does not fall obviously into one of the categories. There is Wild Class III, teardrop or petal-headed fasteners, but these are normally characterised by a central boss (e.g. YORYM-F37A91). Wild Class VIa features chequered enamel designs, but for rectangular shaped heads (e.g. LIN-444AE6).
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.'
Class: Wild (1970) Class III
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 50
Date to: Circa AD 200
Quantity: 1
Length: 41.2 mm
Width: 16.6 mm
Thickness: 5.2 mm
Weight: 8 g
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Other reference: YMT: E05656
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
4 Figure: SE8139
Four figure Latitude: 53.84094255
Four figure longitude: -0.7704723
1:25K map: SE8139
1:10K map: SE83NW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.