Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
NAIL CLEANER
Unique ID: BERK-1A3B74
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
A complete copper alloy Roman idiosyncratic, leaf-shaped nail cleaner dating from the 1st to mid-2nd century AD. The nail cleaner is leaf shaped, and flat. At the top of the nail cleaner there is circular attachment loop with an inside diameter of 3.8mm.The loop is attached to a thin rectangular neck which has three diagonal incised lines on both edges. The neck is 2.9mm in length and tapers outwards to form a leaf-shaped plate. The plate is decorated with three ring and dot motifs aligned in the form of 3 points of a triangle. One is place where the neck joins the leaf plate, and the other two are place on either sides of the leaf plate at its widest point. Further down towards the bottom end of the leaf plate there is an incised down turned 'V' shape. The leaf plate narrows to form the prongs which are decorated with incised diagonal lines on both edges.
The terminal end of the cleaner is shaped into two rounded prongs, with a central groove dividing them. The groove is on one side only. The prongs are 8.2mm in length. The reverse is undecorated. The nail cleaner has a light green patina.
The nail cleaner is 38mm in length, 11.4mm in width, 1.7mm in thickness, and weighs 1.80g.
Similar nail cleaners can be seen in Crummy 1983 page 58, figure 62, numbers 1872, 1874. These are dated from 1st to 2nd century AD.
A similar find can be seen on the PAS database, see record: BUC-F5CC54.
Class:
idiosyncratic, leaf-shaped
Sub class: Eckardt, H. and Crummy, N. 2008, 137, fig. 79
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 43
Date to: Circa AD 150
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 38 mm
Width: 11.4 mm
Thickness: 1.7 mm
Weight: 1.8 g
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: OX & West Berks 2480
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Decoration style: Geometric
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: West Berkshire (Unitary Authority)
District: West Berkshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Boxford (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SU4370
Four figure Latitude: 51.42738205
Four figure longitude: -1.38290455
1:25K map: SU4370
1:10K map: SU47SW
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crummy, N. | 1983 | Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds from excavations in Colchester, 1971-9 | Colchester | Colchester Archaeological Trust Ltd | Page 58 | Figure 62 |
Similar objects
Find number: SUSS-FA2248
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broadperiod: ROMAN
An incomplete copper alloy Roman nail cleaner of Crummy 1983, Type 2a (AD 43-200). The remaining section of the nail cleaner is leaf shape, a…
Workflow: Published
Find number: SOM-9F940C
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broadperiod: ROMAN
An incomplete copper alloy Roman nail cleaner dating from the 1st to 2nd century AD. The head and part of the pointed tip of the nail cleaner…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: SOM-65D7E2
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broadperiod: ROMAN
An incomplete copper alloy Roman nail cleaner with a swollen blade (Group), dating from the 1st to 2nd century AD.
The nail cleaner is b…
Workflow: Published
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618