ROMAN CHAPE

175

An incomplete Roman bone scabbard chape dating to the late 2nd-3rd century AD. The chape is rectangular with a rectangular opening at one end, tapering to a wedge at the other end. The rim of the open end is decorated with a series of undulating projections running around the rim. There is a linear engraving running down the opposing edges on both rectangular faces. There is also a double-parallel linear engraving running up the centre of the external face to form a central rib. There are two pelta shaped holes on either face which would have acted as rivet holes to attach the chape to the scabbard. There has been some damage to the left edge of the outer face, obscuring part of the decoration. Similarly there has been damage to the one of left pelta shaped hole on the reverse, though the decoration is still visible.Similar examples can be found in MacGregor (1985, 164, fig 86 a-d) though these are composite chapes, formed of two parts. This example has been carved from a single piece of bone so is of different construction. MacGregor states that these types of chape were commissioned in the late 2nd-3rd century AD for Roman Auxiliary (MacGregor, 1985, 163). All but one of the examples in MacGregor come from Germany, with the single British find coming from Silchester (MacGregor, 1985, 164).Dimensions: length: 74.23 mm; width: 33.73 mm; thickness: 17.21 mm; weight: 29.03g.Reference: MacGregor, A. 1985. Bone, Antler, Ivory and Horn. The Technology of Skeletal Materials since the Roman Period. Croom Helm, London and Sydney.