Record ID: SF-5C168D
Object type: COSMETIC MORTAR
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete cast copper-alloy Roman centre-looped cosmetic mortar. The object is a narrow crescentic shape and V-shaped in cross-section with a shallow groove running longitudinally along the upper face/grinding surface. A flattened un-pierced oval lug projects from the centre of the lower edge (this is more typically pierced to form a loop). The surface of the metal is heavily corroded and the breaks are very heavily worn. Cosmetic pestles were used together with small matching mortars for grinding substances into power for cosmetic and medical application. According to Jackso…
Created on: Tuesday 28th November 2023
Last updated: Monday 18th March 2024
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Debenham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SF-E500D2
Object type: COSMETIC MORTAR
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete Roman copper-alloy cosmetic mortar dating to circa AD 150-250. It has a gently curved crescentic bow with convex walls.  Projecting from the centre at the bottom is the circular suspension loop. The channelled groove is broadly lenticular. The mortar has two zoomorphic, stylised bovid terminals. Each has in-turned horns with blunt-ended muzzles. Three lozenge-shaped cells which would have been inlaid with enamel are positioned on the outer face of the wall adjacent to the loop.  A similar example, with more cells, is depicted in Jackson 1985, no 57, recovered…
Created on: Friday 12th May 2023
Last updated: Monday 19th June 2023
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Near Beck Row', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SF-A7B03D
Object type: COSMETIC MORTAR
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete Iron Age to Roman copper-alloy end-looped cosmetic mortar dating to circa 100 BC-150 AD. The bow is lenticular in plan with a hollowed concave interior and convex underside. Projecting from one end is an integrally coast loop.  It is consistent with the range of end-looped cosmetic mortars depicted in Jackson 1985: fig 6, nos 21-37..  Class: End-looped Length: 27mm; Width: 52.9mm; Thickness: 4.8mm; Weight: 47.24g.
Created on: Thursday 27th October 2022
Last updated: Wednesday 8th March 2023
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Near Raydon', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SF-81810C
Object type: COSMETIC MORTAR
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete Roman copper-alloy probable side-looped cosmetic mortar dating to circa AD 43-410. Only around half of the mortar now survived. It has a gently curved crescentic bow with convex walls. Towards the central break, the outer rim is decorated with three longitudinal grooves. The surviving terminal is zoomorphic, moulded into the styilised representation of bull/cow. It has short horns and long face. The groove where the pestle would have slotted is broadly lenticular.  As no trace of a central loop is visible on the extant piece it is likely it was o…
Created on: Thursday 14th April 2022
Last updated: Friday 13th January 2023
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Near Yaxley', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SF-7FACC3
Object type: COSMETIC MORTAR
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete Roman copper-alloy centre-looped cosmetic mortar dating to circa AD 43-410. Its keel is pointed. It has a gently curved crescentic bow with convex walls. The outer faces are undecorated. Two stubs of a now broken centre loop project from the bottom. The channelled groove is broadly lenticular. The mortar is falls into Jackson's centre loop category with a similar plain example depicted in Jackson 1985: pg 188, pg 8, no 190.  Length: 58.3mm, width: 9.1mm, Thickness: 14.5mm, Weight: 19.3g
Created on: Thursday 14th April 2022
Last updated: Friday 13th January 2023
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Near Yaxley', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SF-1B2514
Object type: COSMETIC MORTAR
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete Iron Age to Roman copper-alloy centre-looped cosmetic mortar dating to circa BC 100-150 AD. The extant piece consists of the mid-section of a centre-looped mortar. The terminals are missing. Its bow is crescentic with convex walls. It has a U-shaped groove where the pestle would fit. The bow is plain.Emerging from the bottom of the bow at the centre are the remains of the loop, now survived by a short projecting stub. T Other than the remains of the centre-loop, no other diagnostic features are extant. Length: 16.2mm; Width: 6mm; Thickness: 9.66mm; Weight: 1.42g
Created on: Monday 27th September 2021
Last updated: Friday 1st October 2021
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Wenhaston', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SF-78C5D7
Object type: COSMETIC MORTAR
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete Roman copper-alloy centre-looped cosmetic mortar. It has a gently curved bow (which may have been more strongly curved originally prior to damage), low, plain, convex walls and a small knob-like terminal at the surviving end. In the centre of the lower face the remains of the loop project, the surviving section of which suggests that it may have been heart-shaped originally. It is bent out of shape, corroded and one end is missing. Jackson (2010) illustrates a group of similar examples from Brandon, Suffolk, (no.46) Canterbury, Kent (no.74), Church End, Essex (no.99…
Created on: Thursday 25th February 2021
Last updated: Friday 18th June 2021
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Kenton', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SF-97765E
Object type: COSMETIC MORTAR
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete Iron Age to Roman copper-alloy end-looped cosmetic mortar dating to circa BC 100-150 AD. Crescentic in section, it consists of a broken circular end-loop which projects from one end of the bow. The bow is convex containing a central groove. The outer side of the bow is plain. It terminates in an rounded knop. It is consistent with the range of end-looped cosmetic mortars depicted in Jackson 1985.
Created on: Wednesday 28th October 2020
Last updated: Friday 30th October 2020
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Brandeston', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SF-5085B9
Object type: COSMETIC MORTAR
Broad period: IRON AGE
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Published
A copper-alloy Iron Age to Roman cosmetic mortar, dating to 100 BC - AD 200. It is a centre-looped mortar with a crescent bow and slightly convex walls; it has a shallow U-shape sectioned groove. The terminals are very worn and they might have been shaped into bull's head. The circular loop is circular and protrudes form the lower edge of the bow.The surfaces are heavily abraded. Cf. Jackson ( 2010), several examples have knobbed and bull's heads terminals (cf. nos. 59, 110, 144, 173). Although very worn the terminals appear to have an overall sub-triangular shape, which recalls …
Created on: Wednesday 20th November 2019
Last updated: Friday 30th April 2021
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'South Elmham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SF-BD954E
Object type: COSMETIC MORTAR
Broad period: IRON AGE
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A copper-alloy Iron Age to Roman cosmetic mortar, dating to 100 BC - AD 200. It is a centre-looped mortar with a crescent bow and slightly convex walls; it has a U-shape sectioned groove. The circular loop is pierced in a sub-triangular thinner tab protruding form the lower edge of the bow.The surfaces are moderately abraded. Cf. Jackson ( 2010, looped type). Length: 53.79 mm Width: 9.05 mm Height: 19.00 mm Thickness of the walls: 2.82 mm Weight: 15.43 g
Created on: Wednesday 13th November 2019
Last updated: Wednesday 22nd July 2020
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Wantisden', grid reference and parish protected.