BRACELET

An incomplete Roman copper-alloy cable bracelet with two twisted strands dating to the period c.AD 320-450.

The surviving portion consists of two strands of sub-oval cross section wire that are twisted around each other to form a spiral. The frame is sub-square in cross-section and is approximately 2.2mm in diameter. It is truncated at both ends resulting in the loss of both terminals, so it is impossible to tell whether this had a twisted expanding clasp, hook and eye or terminated in two hooks.

This fragment is 44.5mm long, with a thickness of 3.6mm and a weight of 2.52g

A twisted bracelet with square section similar to this artefact is illustrated by Swift (2000, 128, fig 151) which is described as a twisted square section bracelet although this appears to be made from a single strand. The distribution of this form of bracelet is demonstrated to extend across Southern Britain and along the Rhine (Swift 2000, 133 fig 158). While it is not certain wether this form is limited to one or two strands, other two strand twisted bracelets which are also illustrated by Swift (2000, 123, fig 144) and show a similar distribution which extends slightly further west into Germany (Swift 2000, 125-6 fig 146, 148, 149).

One similar example made of two wires has been illustrated by Crummy (1983, 39, fig 41, no. 1613) which was excavated from a grave deposit dating (Crummy 1983, 39). Perhaps more similar examples, albeit ones made of only a single stranded are also illustrated (1983, 39, fig 41, nos 1590 and 1602) which were excavated from inhumations burial dating to between the 3rd and 4th century (Crummy 1983, 39).