ROMAN MINIATURE OBJECT

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Roman copper alloy miniature object in the form of an Iron Age or Romano British socketed axehead. It appears to be of Robinson's Type IIa - an expanding, straight-sided profile, short and stubby. Measures 16mm in length and weighs 3.5g.Just below the loop, the max.width is 10.9mm. The socket end measures 9.6x6.3mm and has internal dimensions of 5x2.8mm. It is 3.7mm deep. The axehead narrows to 10.5mm at the 'cutting' edge (which is 2mm thick).The loop is set halfway along the length of the body to one side, and mostly within the body - though there is a slight swelling to the outside edge. The internal measurements of the loop (which is roughly oval) is 3x2.6mm.The miniature object is triangular in section, being thickest at the socket end and narrowing to the blade. Reference: Robinson 1995, Wiltshire Archaeology Magazine 88, p.60-68. Robinson dates the majority of the miniature axeheads to the Roman period, some being from Late Roman contexts. However some are known too from the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age.