ROMAN MINIATURE OBJECT

43

A Roman (AD 43-410) copper alloy miniature object in the form of an Iron Age or Romano British socketed axehead. It is incomplete in so far as the 'cutting edge' appears to be damaged. It is of Robinson's Type II with an expanding, straight-sided profile and somewhere between 'long-bladed' and 'short and stubby'.The 'socket' end is square-ish in cross-section (measuring 11.8x11.3mm) and uneven in shape - being narrower at the loop end. The central oval 'socket' measures 5.2x5.0mm and is 5.1mm deep.The loop extends in a C-shape from just below the mouth of the axe to close to close to the 'cutting edge' of the blade, along one side of the object.The socket area, which takes up c.11mm of the length of the object, is rather bulbous and rouded compared to the narrower blade below. The blade when viewed in profile is triangular in cross-section and 6.1mm thick below the socket, narrowing to 2.6mm at the cutting edge.In shape, the axehead is parallel-sided at the socket-end, before flaring below to 17.7mm at the cutting edge. At the centre is a triangular notch, presumably old-ish damage as it is patinated over. The surface of the axehead is rather pitted and worn.The object measures 26.0mm in length, 20.6mm in max.width (width at loop), 11.3mm in max thickness ('socket' end) and weighs 16.47g.