ROMAN MINIATURE OBJECT

43

A complete copper alloy votive miniature object in the form of a socketed axehead of Roman date. The mouth is ovate with a small circular indentation representing the socket. From the mouth the blade extends which is sub-rectangular flaring out slightly towards the rounded cutting edge. An integral side loop projects from one side close to the socket end of the axehead.The metal has a mid green patina and is worn and pitted. The axehead is 20.6mm long, 11.6mm wide, 5.6mm thick and weighs 3.2g.Numerous similar objects have been recorded on the PAS database. For examples see: IOW-E2E708, BH-15EFD4, SF-631D32 and LIN-B1B742. The latter record describes such miniature axes as being of Robinson's (1995) Type III, which is thought to imitate Iron Age and Romano British iron axes (Robinson 1995 WA&NHM 88), although this form is also very similar to Bronze Age socketed axes.