ROMAN TOILET ARTICLE

43

An incomplete copper alloy Roman (AD c.43-c.402) toilet implement, missing the tip of the shaft. This object would have formed part of a Roman toilet set. Overall, the object measures 110.5mm long, 7.7mm wide and 3.5mm thick. It weighs 7.64g. The implement is in the shape of a pin with cylindrical shaft, c.3.5mm in diameter, which expands in width and narrows in thickness to form a rectangular-sectioned collar. This collar is decorated with horizontal transverse and diagonal cross-hatched grooved lines. The collar continues to expand in width and narrow in thickness as it joins the sub-oval suspension loop at the top. The shaft tapers gently to 2.3mm in diameter at its tip, where there is a break.cf. Crummy, 1983, Colchester Archaeological Report 2, p.61, Fig.66, no.1940.A similar object was found in Wiltshire (WILT-AF96E6) which has been identified as a possible miniature spear.