Record ID: SOMDOR-BC85D3
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
Copper alloy fragment of a possible late Roman flat-bladed nail-cleaner (Group) or strap end. It is of cast sheet metal. Both the ends have broken off. There is a leaf shape remaining with decoration on one side only. The decoration consists of two ring-and-dot stamps flanking a central incised acute zigzag line. The back is undecorated.
Created on: Tuesday 13th April 2004
Last updated: Saturday 29th August 2020
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Cerne Abbas', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: DEV-BB8406
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
An incomplete Roman copper alloy moulded and shouldered blade nail cleaner, probably dating to c. AD 43-200. The object consists of a flat piriform blade in the form of a stylised leaf but missing its point. From the centre of the shoulders expands a rectangular shank cast into the form of two transverse collars and terminating in a circular attachment loop on the same plane as the blade. Crummy (1983: 58) defines such nail cleaners as her type 2a, which she dates to from the mid-1st and into the second century. Examples of Crummy's type 2b (dated by her as slightly later) have b…
Created on: Thursday 6th November 2014
Last updated: Friday 7th August 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-DB88D3
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A copper alloy Roman nail cleaner with a swollen blade of Eckardt, H. and Crummy, N. 2008, 122, fig. 61; Crummy's Type 2b dating to the period c. AD 43-200. The nail cleaner consists of an incomplete circular suspension loop with approximately half of the loop still present, from which the rectangular neck projects. The neck features two horizontal grooves; one at the terminus between the loop and the neck and the other at the terminus between the neck and the body of the object. From the neck the body widens into a triangular stylised leaf-shaped blade with rounded corners and then t…
Created on: Thursday 20th November 2014
Last updated: Friday 28th August 2020
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Gussage St Michael', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: DOR-DBB5C1
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A copper alloy Roman plain nail cleaner with a straight side of Crummy's Type 1a dating to the period c. AD 43 - 200. The nail cleaner has a tapering rectangular blade which bifurcates and flares out into two triangular projections at the tip. There is a triangular groove running from the point of bifurcation to approximately one quarter of the length of the blade. The circular suspension loop projects from the top of the blade and is on the same plane as the blade. Crummy states that this type of nail cleaner dates from the mid to late 1st century AD, but may survive into the second …
Created on: Thursday 20th November 2014
Last updated: Friday 28th August 2020
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Gussage St Michael', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: HAMP-2414E0
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A Late Roman flat-bladed nail-cleaner. Copper alloy, with integral loop, turned through 90 degrees. It measures 40.07mm in length, 10.81mm in max. width and 6.22mm in max. thickness, the diameter of the loop. It weighs 3.96g. The bifurcated end appears worn with some recent damage (a shiny copper alloy is apparent through the darker patination of the metal). The top of the nail cleaner is a horizontal line c.2mm thick. From the centre the 3.4mm wide loop extends backwards, being affixed to the reverse of the body with a rectangular area c.7x5.5mm. The loop is decorated with two g…
Created on: Wednesday 7th August 2013
Last updated: Friday 28th August 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-669381
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A copper alloy nail cleaner of Grooved Collar Type. The nail cleaner is of sturdy construction with deeply moulded decoration. At the top is an asymmetrical arched suspension loop with a circular aperture. The loop is decorated with short incised diagonal notches which extend over the sides and top. The form and decoration of the loop may be zoomorphic in style. The head of the nail cleaner is an oval stepped knop. The wider, upper ridge of the knop is decorated with incised cross hatched lines. The lower, narrower ridge has incised girth lines. It constricts into an oval sectioned sh…
Created on: Thursday 10th October 2013
Last updated: Friday 28th August 2020
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Worth Matravers', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: DEV-7D5D6A
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A Roman copper alloy nail cleaner-strap end dating to c. AD 250-410. The nail cleaner consists of a piriform blade 34.9mm long, which widens to 11.8mm at its rounded shoulders, then narrows down to 5.5 mm before it terminates in a 5.8mm wide split end. An incised V-shaped groove begins 10.9mm above the terminal, the point bifurcating c. 3mm above the tip. A likely split attachment end has been lost to a relaltively unabraded but patinated break, leaving the blade surmounted by a sub-rectangular bar which is flanked by crescentic lugs at the juncture between the bar and blade. The obje…
Created on: Monday 18th December 2017
Last updated: Friday 7th August 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-CAED3B
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A incomplete sheet copper alloy nail cleaner with a swollen blade (Group). At the top is a broken circular suspension loop. The suspension loop then joins a neck before joining the leaf-shaped body of the nail cleaner which tapers to a narrow straight sided leg with a bifurcate terminal with the two ends flaring slightly outwards. The front of the nail cleaner is decorated with a single incised line around the leaf-shaped body and a slightly off-centre longitudinal line extending from the lower part of the body to a third of the way along the leg. From the bifurcated end a wider and …
Created on: Friday 21st June 2019
Last updated: Friday 28th August 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-B91789
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
An incomplete copper alloy late Roman flat-bladed nail-cleaner (Group). A sheet copper alloy plate with breaks at both ends. At the top the plate is narrowed and thickened, ending is an in-curved break, probably from a missing suspension loop. Below this the plate is thinned an expanded into an oval before narrowing again into a rectangular "leg" with a central longitudinal groove. This terminates in an incomplete V- notched fork. The oval section is decorated with stamped or bored circular dots spaced irregularly. One of these, at the edge is holed and there is also a hole through th…
Created on: Wednesday 28th March 2018
Last updated: Friday 28th August 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-971AC3
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A complete copper alloy nail cleaner with a swollen blade (Group). A sheet copper alloy plate with an attachment loop at the top and a forked terminal opposite. At the top there is a rounded suspension loop with a central circular hole. Below this the plate is narrowed and thickened into a with an elongated parallel straight sided neck with an oval cross section. Below this it is again thinned a flared out into a rounded, oval central plate before constricting again into a long rectangular "leg" with a central longitudinal groove. This terminates in a V- notched fork. The oval section…
Created on: Monday 14th May 2018
Last updated: Friday 28th August 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-D5588C
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A copper alloy nail cleaner of idiosyncratic type made by adapting a strip bow brooch.The bow of a strip bow brooch which still retains the tabs at the head with a notch between them. These would have accommodated the axis bar for the pin. The bow is tapering with a flat rectangular cross section. It is decorated with a longitudinal groove along each side, filled with a line of small chevrons.The foot of the bow has been adapted with a v-shaped notch to form two short prongs. There is a short groove running from the apex of the V shaped notch. This is similar to the ends of purpose ma…
Created on: Wednesday 22nd February 2017
Last updated: Friday 28th August 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: PUBLIC-21AC87
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A probable copper-alloy Roman nail-cleaner with exuberant neck decoration. The object has a flat-sectioned body which is of truncated-lozenge shape, with bands of decorative horizontal grooves at the top and bottom ends. In between these bands is a pattern of incised chevrons. This decoration covers both surfaces of the body. At the top of the object is a loop with rounded side and sub-circular perforation. Beneath the body is a stem of trapezoidal cross section, the bottom end of which lacks the usual forked points, suggesting that this may be an unfinished piece. The objec…
Created on: Monday 15th August 2016
Last updated: Saturday 29th August 2020
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Nr Wimborne', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: DEV-C4F5F9
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A Roman copper alloy nail cleaner with a swollen blade of Eckardt and Crummy 2008, 122, probably dating to c. AD 75-250. The object consists of a flat blade, 0.8mm thick, in the form of a stylised leaf. With a transverse oval plate at its shoulders, 14.1mm thick, from the bottom of which projects a long, narrow sub-rectangular neck which bifurcates and terminates in a split end of two points, 3.9m wide. The split point is further defined by a V-shaped groove on one face. From the top of the blade expands a narrow shank, rectangular in plan and cross-section, 3.9mm wide by 2.1mm thick,…
Created on: Tuesday 22nd August 2017
Last updated: Friday 7th August 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-082E5D
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
An incomplete probable copper alloy nail cleaner. At the top is an incomplete circular suspension loop pierced with a circular hole. There is a concentric groove around the hole on one face.The suspension loop then joins the incomplete leaf-shaped body of the nail cleaner which tapers to an old break. The object is undecorated. Date: Roman - c. AD 50 - 150 Dimensions: 17.47 mm x 13.48 mm x 2.07 mm Weight: 1.25 g Nail cleaners have often been found as part of a group of toilet articles, usually including a tweezers and an ear-scoop
Created on: Thursday 17th January 2019
Last updated: Friday 28th August 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-452737
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A sheet copper alloy nail cleaner with a high shoulder, but with a narrower shape (Group). At the top is a circular suspension loop pierced with a small, central circular hole. The suspension loop then joins the leaf-shaped body of the nail cleaner which tapers to a narrow straight sided leg with a bifurcate terminal with the two ends flaring slightly outwards. The front of the nail cleaner is decorated with a single incised line around the leaf-shaped body and a slightly off-centre longitudinal line extending from the lower part of the body to a third of the way along the leg. From t…
Created on: Tuesday 10th July 2018
Last updated: Friday 28th August 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: CORN-88C1B3
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
Cast copper alloy Roman nail cleaner with a spool-neck, sub-Group A. It is simple in form, with an elongated leaf-shaped blade culminating in a forked point. The suspension loop sits at a right-angle to the plane of the blade and is pierced with a small, circular hole at the apex that is 2 m in diameter. The blade is flat in section with a plain undecorated back and a decorated face consisting of a circular wheel motif surrounding a punched dot on the widest part of the blade, an undulating decorative border around the edges of the blade and an engraved line leading up the blade from …
Created on: Thursday 20th April 2017
Last updated: Sunday 30th August 2020
Spatial data recorded.