EXCAVATIONS IN 1999 ON LAND ADJACENT TO WAYSIDE FARM, DEVIZES 



167 



(Henig 1993a, 1 17, no. 18, fig. 60). However, a date after 

 AD350 is usually suggested for this type and its more 

 commonly found heavier form (Orton Hall Farm; 

 Macreth 1996, 98, no. 57, fig. 62 with further examples 

 given). Restored 78mm, section 3 x 2mm. 



Fig. 12.2. (4). Area 2, midden seg. 4136, SF234. 

 Delicate finger ring made of rolled sheet metal. The hoop 

 of square section is slightly carinated at the shoulders 

 and closed by a lap joint opposite the bezel. At the bezel 

 the rolled sheet splits and expands to form an elliptical 

 opening for the setting which is now missing. No parallels 

 have been found for this ring which appears to be a late 

 Roman type (cfButt Road cemetery, Colchester; Crummy 

 1983, 49, nos. 1789-90, fig. 52 from graves dated c. 

 AD320-C.450). A similar ring with a green glass setting 

 came from a post-Roman context at Uley (Henig 1993b, 

 171, no. 8, fig. 132). A gold ring of late 4th-century type 

 from Bowerchalke, Wilts, has a bezel fashioned in a similar 

 way (pers. comm. Nick Griffiths). External 19mm, 

 internal 16mm, height of bezel 3mm. 



Fig. 12.3. (6). Area 2, midden seg. 4120, SF227. 

 Hair pin or toilet implement with a round-sectioned shank 

 (now distorted) tapering to a point. Between the shank 

 and the missing top are two raised and finely cross-hatched 

 zones. If this is a pin, it belongs to an unusual and 

 unidentified type. It does not fit comfortably into any of 

 Cool's groups although several (Groups 5,9,11,20) 

 incorporate cross-hatched areas, none as wide as this 

 (Cool 1990). Alternatively, the cross-hatching would 

 provide a good finger-grip for a small toilet implement 

 such as the ligula from the Bancroft villa (Hylton 1994, 

 3 1 4, no 1 2 1 , fig. 146) or ear-probe from King Harry Lane 

 (Stead and Rigby 1989, 23-4, no. 88, fig. 14). Roman. 

 Restored length 90mm, maximum 3mm. 



Fig. 13.1. (10). Pit F4225, context 4226, SF238. 

 Tapering strip of decorated sheet metal fragment, possibly 

 torn across a bend at the wider end and definitely 

 incomplete at the narrow end. The sheet is curved 

 longitudinally and to a lesser extent laterally. It is damaged 

 along one long side with a section torn away at the wider 

 end. The margins of the long sides have been punched 

 from the underside with circles en repousse. The pressure 

 of the punch was unevenly applied so that most of the 

 circles appear as raised or even stamped out crescents. 

 The same punch was used to stamp out a circular hole 

 away from the edge at the wider end and to make three 

 further holes along the undamaged edge (similar 

 perforations would be disguised by the damage on the 

 opposite side). These holes were presumably for 

 attachment. A decorative six-petalled rosette has been 

 incompletely stamped out of the centre of the object. 

 Length 105m, maximum extant width 46mm, thickness 

 <0.5mm. 



Fig. 13.2. (1). Area 1, layer 3056, SF102 Brooch. 

 Simple one-piece brooch of Nauheim derivative type. The 

 bow is triangular in section with punched decoration along 

 the apex. The 4-coil spring has an internal chord. The 

 pin and catch-plate are complete. The bow section, 



internal chord and solid catch-plate suggest a date of c. 

 AD40-75, significantly earlier than any other dateable 

 small finds from this site. Length 60mm. 



Fig. 13.3. (5). Area 2, midden seg. 4039, SF202. 

 Strap-end of hybrid amphora/heart-shaped form with a 

 central decorative double ring-and-dot motif. Part of the 

 component which originally linked the strap-end to its 

 belt survives in situ. This particular form of strap-end 

 can be dated to c. AD370 - 400+ and belongs to a well- 

 documented class of late Roman belt-fittings (cf Simpson 

 1976 and Clarke 1979, 264-291). Length 46mm, width 

 24mm. 



Fig. 13.4. (7). Area 2, Pit F4225, context 4239. 

 Incomplete spoon comprising the stem and a small part 

 of the bowl, now torn, which was originally large and 

 oval. The sub-round-sectioned stem tapers to a point and 

 near the bowl it widens to a rectangular section with two 

 small notches on the upper face marking the change of 

 section. It is joined to the bowl by an offset volute. The 

 stem is now distorted into a serpentine shape that, perhaps 

 not by chance, is extremely comfortable to hold between 

 the thumb and forefinger with the bowl facing up. AD 

 4th century. Length 91mm. 



Fig. 14.2. (9). Area 2, Pit F4225, context 4226, 

 SF268. Six conjoining fragments of decorated sheet metal 

 strip. Together they form a complete flat, oval, penannular 

 object decorated with punched dots along the outer edge. 

 A larger hole has been punched in the outer corner of 

 each terminal. This object was folded up before deposition 

 and has fragmented along the folds. Maximum external 

 165mm, maximum internal 140mm, gap c. 80mm, 

 width 13mm. 



Objects 9 and 10 (Fig. 13.1 and 14.2) are very similar 

 in material, manufacture and style. As they also come 

 from the same context it is likely that they are components 

 of one larger object. Although no parallels for either object 

 have been found, it is suggested here that 9 is a collar, 

 perhaps originally attached to the neck of a garment such 

 as a tunic, and that the two larger holes originally held a 

 cord or ribbon tied at the back of the wearer's neck.. If 

 object 9 is a collar, 1 could also be a decorative applique 

 for a garment and it is the right shape and size for an 

 epaulette. Decorative stamped sheets are published as box 

 or furniture fittings (cf Uley; Woodward and Leach 1993, 

 207, notably nos. 1,8 and 20, fig. 153) but also occur in 

 religious contexts as votive plaques (cfUley; Henig 1983c, 

 104-8, nos. 9-10, fig. 92; nos. 2 and 10, fig. 93) and have 

 been discussed as sceptre mounts (King Harry Lane; 

 Stead and Rigby, 27-9, nos. 146-7, fig. 17). It is tempting 

 to see 9 and 1 as items of regalia, perhaps of a priestiy 

 nature. Stylistically these objects belong in the late Roman 

 period. 



Not illustrated 



Object 3. Area 2, midden seg. 4024, SF221 . Fragment of 

 a heavily corroded bracelet of upright rectangular section 

 with a notched top. Strip bracelets with a variety of incised 



