ROMAN MINIATURE OBJECT

43

Complete copper alloy Roman miniature object in the shape of a hafted axe. The handle and blade are moulded as a single object. The handle is circular in section up to the point of the underside of the blade, but the portion that appears to extend from the top edge of the blade is rectangular in section. The axe head is wedge shaped in plan and rectangular in profile, with a slight downward curve at the cutting edge. When viewed in profile it has a straight, vertical back end and flares towards the cutting edge. The object is undecorated except for an incised 'X' on the blade where the handle notionally passes through. The original surface is abraded with patches missing. Where the original surface survives, the patina is dark green and where it is pitted the exposed surfaces are lighter green. The axe head is 24.76mm long, 11.68mm wide and 2.1mm thick at its midpoint. The handle is 38.28mm long and 3.28mm thick. The object weighs 5.63g. Miniature Roman axes of this type were either carried as good luck charms or used as votive offerings in religious practice. This example is almost identical to another miniature axe (ESSB42710)from the same site.