LAMP HOOK

A complete Roman cast copper alloy hook dating to c. AD 43-402.

The hook is fully intact. At its top is a circular suspension loop that is flat in cross section and pierced by a sub-circular hole (c. 2.2mm in diameter). Below this suspension loop is a moulded collar followed by the bar for the hook both of which are circular in cross section (c. 5.0mm in diameter).

The bar project downwards for a total length of 74.7mm narrowing near its end to a still slightly sharp point. It has two hooked projections extending from it. The first, placed c.8.8mm down from the suspension loop, curves outwards and downwards, extending 11.3mm from the bar, and terminates in a well rounded point which is at an angle of 105 degrees from the bar above it. The second hook is on the opposite side of the bar and closer to the point being placed c.47.7mm from the attachment loop. This hook first extends outwards at 90 degrees from the bar for 5.9mm before bending upwards at 45 degrees from this projection for 14.4mm before terminating in a sub-rounded point.

The hook is a medium brown colour with a few chips but is otherwise well preserved. The central bar is bent slightly below the second larger book in the direction of this hook.

The hook is 82.3mm long, 35.7mm wide and 5.1mm thick. It weighs 9.06 grams.

Two similar objects hooks are illustrated by Crummy (1983, 80, Nos. 2113-2114) the first of which is particularly similar and dated to between c.AD 43-55 (Crummy 1983, 3). No 2114 is less similar, albeit sharing the same general form and is dated to between c. AD 320-450 (ibid). Similar examples are also recorded on the PAS Database such as LVPL266, LVPL-7C10E5 and NMS-F92D12 which cite similar examples from Fishbourne (Cunliffe 1971, 114 no.102). and Colchester (Hawkes and Hull 1947, 334, pl. C no. 33). All of these have been identified as lamp hooks.

The finder has suggested that the artefact may instead have been a medical implement. The small diameter of the hooks, their position, with one curving up and one down, and the small suspension loop, all suggest it would be hard to securely suspend a lamp calling in to doubt the existing interpretation. However a review of investigations of Roman instrumentarium (Jackson 1986, 1997, Baker 2004) has been unable to identify any object of a similar form. The identification as a medical implement would rely on an example being found in a context with other such implements as other purposes could be suggested for such a hook..