IRON AGE MINIATURE OBJECT

1150

An incomplete Roman (AD 1-410) copper alloy miniature object in the form of an Iron Age or Romano British socketed axehead, with a broken loop. It is of Robinson's Type ?? The object measures 17.86mm in length, 10.49mm in max.width (width at loop), 8.76mm in max thickness ('socket' end) and weighs 4.98g.The 'socket' end is D-shaped in cross-section. The central rectangular 'socket' measures 4.64 x 3.27mm, D-shaped in cross-section. The socket is 3.21mm deep. The loop extends in a C-shape to one side and is broken in the middle.The blade when viewed in profile is triangular in cross-section and 6.40mm thick below the socket, narrowing to 2.77mm at the cutting edge.In plan, the axehead is "waisted", flaring at both the socket-end and the cutting edge, which is rounded.Reference: Robinson 1995, Wiltshire Archaeology Magazine 88, p.60-68, cf.10, 13. 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.