The Excavations of San Giovanni di Ruoti, Volume II: The Small Finds 0802006310, 9780802006318

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The Excavations of San Giovanni di Ruoti Volume II The Small Finds Between 1977 and 1984 the excavations of a Canadian archaeological team at San Giovanni di Ruoti in southern Italy uncovered a series of three Roman villas dating from the first to the sixth centuries AD. The multi-volume report on the excavation will provide the first comprehensive overview of the social and economic life of a Roman villa in southern Italy. Volume II constitutes a catalogue raisonne of the small finds, covering all categories of non-ceramic personal, domestic, and industrial artifacts recovered from the site. C.J. Simpson, a member of the Canadian excavation team, provides detailed descriptions of the individual artifacts, their dates of manufacture, and their use, and discusses the evidence they yield for domestic and daily life. The artifacts range from hairpins and brooches to iron knives used for slicing and chopping. Coins and lamps found at the site are evaluated in separate contributions by R. Reece (Institute of Archaeology, University College, London) and J.J. Rossiter (Department of History and Classics, University of Alberta). The book includes several useful appendices, notably one by Vito Volterra (Department of Anthropology, McMaster University) on the analysis of millstones. The 400 items listed in the catalogue are illustrated by drawings or photographs. This volume presents one of very few accounts of the household artifacts found at an estate centre remote from urban Rome. It provides an important resource for specialists seeking to date similar objects, and adds much interesting detail to our picture of the rural economy of Italy in late antiquity. C.J. Simpson is Associate Professor of Classics at Wilfrid Laurier University.

PHOENIX Journal of the Classical Association of Canada Revue de la Socéité canadienne des etudes classiques Supplementary Volume XXXIV Tome supplémentaire XXXIV

C.J. SIMPSON

The Excavations of SAN GIOVANNI DI RUOTI Volume II The Small Finds with contributions from R. Reece (Coins) J.J. Rossiter (Lamps) and appendices by

O. Colacicchi Alessandri (gold amulet no. 369) V. Volterra (millstones) Artifact drawings by R. Aicher and C. Mundigler ALASTAIR M. SMALL and ROBERT J. BUCK General Editors

U N I V E R S I T Y OF TORONTO PRESS Toronto Buffalo London

www.utppublishing.com © University of Toronto Press Incorporated 1997 Toronto

Buffalo

London

Printed in Canada ISBN 0-8020-0631-0

Printed on acid-free paper

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Small, Alastair The excavations of San Giovanni di Ruoti (Phoenix. Supplementary volume; 33 = Phoenix. Tome supplémentaire, ISSN 0079-1784; 33) Includes bibliographical references and index. Contents: v. 2. The small finds / C.J. Simpson with contributions from R. Reece (Coins), J.J. Rossiter (Lamps). ISBN 0-8020-0631-0 (v. 2) 1. San Giovanni di Ruoti site (Italy). 2. Ruoti (Italy) - Antiquities, Roman. 3. Excavations (Archaeology) - Italy - Ruoti. I. Buck, Robert J., 1926- . II. Title. III. Series: Phoenix. Supplementary volume (Toronto, Ont.); 33. DG70.S238S53 1994

937'.7

C94-931383-1

This book has been published with the help of a grant from the Canadian Federation for the Humanities, using funds provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

FOR NIC AND KATE

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CONTENTS

L I S T OF T A B L E S

x

L I S T OF I L L U S T R A T I O N S xi PREFACE

xiii

A B B R E V I A T I O N S xvii

Introduction 3 Phases and dates of occupation 4 The organization of the Catalogue 5 The current disposition of the minor objects 5 Format of Catalogue entries 5 The minor objects as dating evidence 6 The minor objects as evidence for daily life 7 Constraints 7 The tables 8 The middens 9 Catalogue 21 I. Articles of adornment, dress, or toilet 21 Hairpins 21 Combs 25 Brooches 26 Finger rings 28 Earrings 29 Bracelets/armlets 29 Beads 30 Buckles and other articles of dress 30 Ligulae 33 Tweezers 33 Mirror 33

viii Contents II. Articles associated with textiles 34 Sewing needles 34 Loom weights 35 Spindle whorls 37 Circular or irregularly shaped weights 37 III. Articles associated with the processing of food 38 Querns 38 Stone mortars 39 Large stone basins 41 Metal bowl 41 IV. Articles associated with writing 41 Styli 41 Stylus cases 42 Seal box 43 V. Articles associated with weighing 43 Weights 43 Steelyard 44 VI. Tools (knife blades and other implements) 44 Stone objects 44 Bone objects 44 Metal blades 45 Implements used in woodworking 47 Implements possibly associated with leatherworking 48 Implements associated with agriculture 48 Other implements 48 Tools and implements of unknown use 49 VII. Furnishings, fastenings, and fixtures 49 Furniture attachments 49 Objects of bone 49 Objects of copper alloy 50 Keys and lock fittings 51 Hinges 51 Staples and similar objects 52 Loop-headed spikes 52 Split pin / ring staples 52 Miscellaneous fixtures and fittings 53 VIII. Articles associated with leisure, religious, and other activities 54 Gaming pieces 54 Flute fragment 54 Metal sculpture 55 Terracotta objects 56 Amulet 56 IX. Articles associated with equitation 57 Cheekpiece 57 Strap fittings 57 Spurs 57 X. Weaponry 58 Projectile head 58

Contents ix XI. Objects currently unidentifiable 58 Copper alloy objects 58 Iron objects 59 Other objects 59 Bibliography 60 Concordances 65 Small Find numbers: Volumes II / I 65 Small Find numbers in ascending order 67 Appendix 1 Conservation of the amulet by O. Colacicchi Alessandri 70 Appendix 2 The inheritance of Stephen and the non-ceramic artifacts at San Giovanni di Ruoti 73 Appendix 3 Provenancing of ancient Roman millstones by V. Volterra

75

COINS by R. Reece 83 Coins and the economy in the later phases of San Giovanni 83 Catalogue 86 Bibliography 87 LAMPS by ].]. Rossiter 89 Introduction 89 Catalogue 90 Group 1: Italian lamps of Bailey Types A to G 90 Group 2: Italian lamps of Bailey Types O and P 92 Group 3: Italian lamps - miscellaneous fragments (first to second centuries AD) 93 Group 4: Italian globule lamps (Bailey Type K) 93 Group 5: African lamps of Atlante Form VIII / Hayes Type I 94 Group 6: African lamps of Atlante Form X/ Hayes Type II 95 Group 7: Campanian Red Ware lamps of Bailey Type Siii 97 Group 8: Lucanian Buffware lamps of Bailey Type Siii 98 Group 9: Miscellaneous Late Roman lamps 99 Bibliography 100 ILLUSTRATIONS 103

TABLES

1. Chronology

4

2. Room contents: Period 1 10 3. Room contents: Period 2 11 4. Room contents: Period 3A (excluding middens) 12 5. Room contents: Period 3A (middens) 12 6. Room contents: Period 3B (excluding middens) 13 7. Room contents: Period 3B (middens) 16 8. Room contents: Period 3 undifferentiated (middens) 17 9. Contents of middens 18 10. Room contents by occupation layers 20

ILLUSTRATIONS

1. General map of South Italy 105 2. Overall plan of the site with room numbers 106 3. Plan of the villa of Period 1 107 4. Plan of the villa of Period 2A 108 5. Plan of the villa of Period 2B 109 6. Plan of the villa of Period 2C 110 7. Plan of the villa of Period 3A 111 8. Plan of the middens 112 9. Plan of the villa of the early subphase of Period 3B 113 10. Plan of the villa of the late subphase of Period 3B 114 11. Hairpins (2-23) 115 12. Hairpins (26-53) 116 13. Combs (54-57); brooches (58-65) 117 14. Finger rings (66-74); earrings (75-83) 118 15. Bracelets (85-93); beads (94, 96); belt equipment (98-100) 119 16. Belt equipment (101-116) 120 17. Ligulae (118-125); tweezers (126); mirror (127) 121 18. Sewing needles (128-142) 122 19. Loom weights (143-156) 123 20. Loom weights (157-162); spindle whorls (163-165) 124 21. Circular weights (167,174); quernstones (181,183) 125 22. Profiles of quernstones (184,186,190); stone mortaria (194,197) 126 23. Stone mortaria (198,199) 127 24. Stone mortaria (200-203) 128 25. Metal bowl rim (207); styli (208-220) 129 26. Stylus cases (223-231); seal box (232); weights (233-235); steelyard (236) 130

xii Illustrations 27. Stone objects (237-239); bone blade (240); bone handle (241); metal blades (242-246) 131 28. Metal blades (249-258) 132 29. Metal blades (259-265) 133 30. Woodworking tools (266-271) 134 31. Woodworking tools (272-278) 135 32. Leatherworking tools (280-282); tines (284-288); fish hook (289) 136 33. Miscellaneous articles (291-295); bone furniture attachments (298-303) 137 34. Copper alloy furniture attachments (304-314) 138 35. Keys and lock fittings (315-322); hinges (323, 324) 139 36. Spikes and staples (325-340) 140 37. Staples (341-345); miscellaneous fixtures (346-351) 141 38. Lead objects (352, 354); gaming pieces (357-361); flute fragment (363); figurine base (364) 142 39. Articles associated with superstition (365-369 [369b, 1:1]); bone cheekpiece/toggle (370) 143 40. Spurs, arrow head, and unidentified objects (371-379) 144 41. Unidentified objects (380-398) 145 42. Unidentified objects (399-101) 146 43. Bone comb (55; photo a and b) 147 44. Bird brooch (59; photo) 148 45. Bird brooch (60; photo a and b) 149 46. Bird brooch (61; photo a and b) 150 47. Gold ring/bracelet fragment (70; photo a and b) 151 48. Mirror (127; photo) 152 49. Stone mortarium (192; photo) 153 50. Stone mortarium (196; photo) 154 51. Axe blade (263; photo) 155 52. Bone 'head' applique (300; photo) 156 53. Copper alloy applique (305; photo) 157 54. Figurine base (364; photo) 158 55. Lar familiaris (365; photo front and rear) 159 56. Gold lamella (369; photo obverse and reverse) 160 57. Pottery lamps. Groups 1 to 3 161 58. Pottery lamps. Groups 4 to 6 162 59. Pottery lamps. Groups 6 to 8 163 60. Pottery lamps. Groups 8 to 9 164 61. Pottery lamps. Miscellaneous drawings 165

PREFACE

This volume by C.J. Simpson, with additional material by R. Reece and J.J. Rossiter, contains three parts: the description and discussion by Simpson of most of the small finds from our excavation of the Roman villa at San Giovanni di Ruoti; by Reece of the coins; and by Rossiter of the ceramic lamps. It is the second in a series of volumes in which the results of the excavation will be published. Volume I, already in print, deals with the site and its setting, both in space and time: the geographical and historical background; the buildings, their functions, and their development by Periods; the present state of the remains and their original appearance (with conjectural reconstructions); the mosaics, and significant artifacts for determining the chronology of the site; the stratification and its interpretation. Other volumes will present the ceramic objects and the faunal and botanical remains. The publication as a whole will provide a comprehensive corpus of material that will illuminate the social and economic life of this Roman villa. It will also provide comparative material for the study of other villas, especially in Italy. Special attention is given to the villa of the latest period (the fifth and first half of the sixth centuries AD), which illustrates the development of villa life and design in Late Antiquity. The site is remote, for it lies near the western watershed of the Lucanian Apennines in a rather inaccessible valley, 25 km north-west of Potenza (Fig. 1). At the site were found the remains of three villas from three different periods, super-

imposed on one another. The villa of Period 1, which was established there ca. 1 AD was a building of no great architectural pretensions, and the finds published in this volume suggest that its owner was a man of relatively modest means. It did, however, possess its own watermill for grinding grain (perhaps the earliest so far discovered) and its own kiln for making tiles. Several inscriptions of the first century AD found nearby show that some families in this area, including perhaps the owner of our villa, had connections with the families of curial class who governed the local municipalities. This villa was abandoned about AD 220, and remained disused until about AD 340, when part of it was repaired and reoccupied. The new period of occupation (Period 2) lasted until ca. AD 400, and during this time the buildings were drastically altered on at least three occasions. None of these alterations shows any attempt at architectural pretension, and it is probable that the economic life of the villa was maintained at a relatively low level. That is confirmed by the small finds of the period, which are generally unpretentious. Moreover, the shortage of lamp types datable to the fourth century AD suggests that the villa of this period was not lit with lamps burning olive oil. As Rossiter points out, oil was an expensive commodity in the late fourth century. The slopes of the hills surrounding San Giovanni are too far inland and too cold for olive cultivation, and the owner of the villa of Period 2 may have been reluctant to import oil for burn-

xiv ing in lamps. He presumably used olive oil for soap in his bath building, but he may have lit his buildings with candles of wax or, more probably, tallow, in the ancestral Italic fashion. Nomina candelae nobis antiqua dederunt. Non norat parcos uncta lucerna patres (Martial 14.43). The most important period of the villa (Period 3) commenced at the beginning of the fifth century, when the remains of the previous villa were mostly destroyed, and a much grander new building was erected, with architectural details typical of Late Antiquity. The period divides into two halves (Period 3A and Period 3B). The initial buildings (of Period 3A) were damaged around AD 460, probably in an earthquake. The main hall, the praetorium, was then demolished, and several new structures, including a new praetorium with an upper floor, were added, adjoining the existing buildings. The rebuilt and extended villa (of Period 3B) was a tightly organized complex of buildings of considerable architectural sophistication. It fell gradually into decay in the early sixth century as parts of the central, south, and western ranges of buildings were abandoned and filled with refuse. Eventually the building was stripped of much of its furnishings, the bath suite and stable block which had remained in use were also abandoned, and the praetorium was burned. The villa was subsequently looted for lead and building materials. The date for the final destruction of the villa can only be established within broad limits. The ceramic evidence is discussed by Freed in volume I, pp. 119-120, and need only be summarized here. The pottery found in the destruction layers is broadly similar to that found in the latest middens. None of the imported fine-ware forms need be any later than ca. AD 525. Since the uppermost layer of Midden 6 contains no imported fine wares, it is possible that less well dated local or regional pottery (including Late Painted Common Ware) continued to be used at the site for some time after fine wares from Africa and Asia Minor ceased to be imported; but it is unlikely that a post-import phase continued for long since the quantity of this material is not large, and there is no sign of any typological development in the Late Painted Common Ware, which one would expect if the site had continued

Preface to be occupied for a significant period. A few small finds, however, suggest a later date. The belt buckle no. 109 in this catalogue finds close comparanda in Central Europe in contexts of the second half of the sixth century, as Simpson argues. Some other objects would also suit a later date, notably the three bird brooches nos. 59-61, which are dated by Simpson broadly to the sixth/seventh centuries. In volume I we assessed this evidence, and concluded that the villa was destroyed shortly before the middle of the century, perhaps in the Gothic Wars. It would be unwise to date the end of the building still later on the basis primarily of a single belt buckle found in a destruction layer, which may have been deposited there some time after the abandonment, when the building was ransacked for reusable materials (see volume I, p. 124). In both Periods 3A and 3B, large quantities of refuse were piled up in middens both in and around the villa. A great quantity of bone and seed remains and thousands of discarded artifacts, including many of the objects catalogued in this volume, were collected in the excavation of these middens. All this material helps to illuminate the economic and social life of the site in this transitional period between the end of the Roman Empire in the West and the beginning of the Middle Ages. Much of the soil found in the middens was sieved through meshes of 2.5 and 7.5 mm, with the result that numerous minute objects were collected. There were, however, no contemporary coins. In fact, except for a couple of modern pieces, there are no coins from any context at San Giovanni that can be dated after the first decade or so of the fifth century. The site, therefore, provides more evidence for the demonetization of the Italian countryside in the fifth century AD, as Reece argues in this volume. The absence of coins can have nothing to do with the prosperity of the site, since the villa was at its most prosperous in the late fifth century. It simply means that coins had ceased to be used as a medium of exchange - if they ever had served that purpose at San Giovanni. Even in the earlier periods the number of coins was so small that we may doubt that they were much used for routine transactions. Lamps and pottery imported into San Giovanni from North Africa and the eastern

Preface xv Mediterranean must have been acquired in exchange for goods without the use of coin. There were no obvious means by which coin could be distributed in south Italy, and even the taxes were paid in kind - in the form of live pigs.1 There is another, perhaps more surprising, class of objects missing from the middens. Simpson's study makes it clear that while there is ample evidence for equipment used in the working of wood and leather and in the preparation of food, there is a marked absence of agricultural tools. The stables in the south range of the building and two spurs found inside the compound show that horses were kept inside the main complex of the villa, but apart from five iron tines, which might well come from pitchforks used to feed hay to the horses, there are no tools that can be associated with the cultivation of crops or the raising of animals. The absence of agricultural tools might be accounted for in one of two ways: either the buildings where the tools were stored and crops were processed were in a different part of the site; or these activities were not carried out in the villa of Period 3. To find out which, the team returned to San Giovanni in the summer of 1994 and excavated a trial trench on the east side of the buildings, where the lie of the land is best suited for another range of buildings.2 The trench measured 23 m long and 2 m wide, and ran roughly north-south, approximately 6 m to the east of the perimeter wall of the building, with its north end occupying the space midway between the wall and the kiln of Period 1.3 The trial trench showed clearly that there was no range of agricultural buildings in the immediate vicinity of the villa on its eastern side. It remains possible that there was a small building for agricultural processing further to the southeast. There, two rooms containing dolia were partially explored in our previous excavations; but the space available beyond the trial trench is so limited that a pars rustica in this area must have been very small in comparison with the main building. Much more excavation in the environs of the villa would be needed to prove the point conclusively, but provisionally we conclude that the processing of crops, including grapes, was not an important part of the economy of San Gio-

vanni in Period 3. Cereals, legumes, and fruits were of course consumed in the villa, and they have left residues in the archaeological record;4 these may have been brought into the villa from elsewhere, perhaps by coloni who cultivated them on their own land. The lamps published by Rossiter throw an interesting light on the question of the extent to which San Giovanni (and south Italy in general) was cut off from sea-borne imports after the Vandal conquest of North Africa. Freed has already noted that fine wares imported from North Africa became increasingly rare at San Giovanni in the late fifth century. Up to a point, Phocaean Ware from the Aegean was used instead, but all categories of imported pottery fell off after the beginning of the sixth century.5 The Late Painted Common Ware produced in the region provided a substitute and is found in abundance in Period 3 at San Giovanni. The evidence of the lamps, however, does modify the picture somewhat. As Rossiter points out, lamps continued to reach San Giovanni from North Africa in significant numbers until the end of the fifth century. There was, therefore, traffic with North Africa until well after the Vandal conquest, at least in some products. The changing importance of imports will be considered further in the forthcoming volumes on the pottery and the agricultural production of the villa. The evidence that the artifacts provide for the economy and daily life of the site must be supplemented by the studies of the pottery and glass (including the glass lamps) and of the faunal and botanical remains. These will be published in the forthcoming volumes. But the small finds, lamps, and coins published here are important elements of the evidence for the life of the inhabitants of these buildings. The authors and editors wish to express their thanks for assistance to the following: to H.V. Buck (for word-processing and data entry), to C. Roberto (for cataloguing and much initial classification), to R. Aicher and C. Mundigler (for the drawings), to G.H. Buck, W. Rauschning, H. Schwanke, and W. Stier (for photography), and to T. Allen, T. Prowse, A.-M. Forget, and L. Walker (for help at various stages in the preparation of the publication). The contributions of B.G. Ack-

xvi Preface royd, O. Colacicchi Alessandri, J. Duke, S. James, R. Moser, J.R. Russell, P. Schaus, R.S.O. Tomlin, and V. Volterra are recorded in the discussions of the particular items in the Catalogues. The site plans by E. Haldenby are reproduced from Volume I. We are especially grateful to Dott. A. Bottini (Soprintendente), A. Capano, M. Tagliente (Ispettori), and the staff of the Soprintendenza Archeologica per la Basilicata for their constant support of this project; and to the University of Alberta, Wilfrid Laurier University, and above all to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for the funds that made it possible. The compilation and layout of the illustrations were assisted by the award of a generous Wilfrid Laurier University Book Preparation Grant. A.M. Small R.J. Buck

NOTES 1 Steele 1983; D. Whitehouse, 'Ruoti, pottery and pigs, ibid., 107-109; Buck 1983,40-43; M. MacKinnon 1993. 2 The excavation was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and Wilfrid Laurier University, to both of whom we wish to express our gratitude. 3 For a preliminary report on this excavation see Small et al. 1995. 4 L. Costantini, Piante coltivate e piante spontanee a S. Giovanni di Ruoti (Potenza), in Gualtieri et al. 1983,85-90; further publication pending. 5 Freed 1986,119-121.

ABBREVIATIONS

The abbreviations are, generally, those used in L'Année Philologique. Abbreviated but readily understandable journal titles (e.g., Britannia, Gallia, and Germania) are not listed here. AA AAntHung AArchHung AJ A]A ANRW AntJ ArchMed BAR BJ BRGK BROB Conimbriga VII Crummy DAI(R) DissArchGand DissPann ECM/CV FolArch GDV IE] LIMC NSA Papers PBSR PGM

Deutsches archäologisches Institut, Archäologischer Anzeiger Acda Antiqua Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae. Budapest Ada Archaeologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae. Budapest The Archaeological Journal. The Royal Archaeological Institute. London The American Journal of Archaeology Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt. Geschichte und Kultur Roms im Spiegel der neueren Forschung. H. Temporini, ed. Berlin, 1972The Antiquaries' Journal. London Archeologia Medievale British Archaeological Reports. Oxford Bonner Jahrbücher Bericht der Romish-Germanischen Kommission Berichten van der Rijksdienst voor het Ouderdkundig Bodermonderzoek Alarçao, J., and R. Etienne, Fouilles de Conimbriga VII: Trouvailles diverses - Conclusions générales (with A. Moutinho Alarçao and S. da Ponte), Paris, 1979 Crummy, N., et al, The Roman Small Finds from Excavations in Colchester 1971-9. Colchester Archaeological Reports 2, Colchester, 1983 Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, RÖmische Abteilung Dissertationes Archaeologicae Gandenses. Bruges Dissertationes Pannonicae Echos du Monde Classique I Classical Views Folia Archaeologica. Budapest Germanische Denkmäler der Völkerwanderungszeit. Berlin Israel Exploration Journal Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae, Vol. 1, Zurich, 1990 Notizie degli scavi di antichità. Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. Rome Papers in Italian Archaeology IV. The Cambridge Conference, Vol. 4. C. Malone and S. Stoddart (eds), BAR International Series 256. Oxford, 1985 Papers of the British School at Rome Papyri Graecae Magicae. Diegriechischen Zauberpapyri2, K. Preisendanz and A. Henrichs (eds), Stuttgart, 1973-4

xviii Abbreviations RCRF RE

SJ

Rei Cretariae Romanae Fautorum Ada Paulys Real-Encyclopädie der klassischen Alter tumswissenschaft, neue Bearbeitung begonnen von G. Wissozua. Stuttgart, 1894Saalburg Jahrbuch

The following codes represent the periods and phases of the various site layers. Pl/B Pl/D Pl/F P1/ I Pl/O P2/B P2/C P2/D P2/F P2/I P2/O P2B/B P2B/C P2B/F P2C/B P2C/F P3A/B P3A/D P3A/F P3A/I P3A/O P3A/RF P3A/M1A P3A/M1B P3B/B P3B/C P3B/D P3B/F P3B/I P3B/M2E P3B/M2N P3B/M4 P3B/M5 P3B/M5T P3B/M6 P3B/M7 P3B/M9 P3B/O P3B/RB P3B/RD P3B/RR TO

Period 1, Build-up Period 1, Destruction Period 1, Floor Period 1, Infill Period 1, Occupation layer Period 2, Build-up Period 2, Construction layer Period 2, Destruction layer Period 2, Floor Period 2, Infill Period 2, Occupation layer Period 2B, Build-up Period 2B, Construction layer Period 2B, Floor Period 2C, Build-up Period 2C, Floor Period 3A, Build-up Period 3A, Destruction layer Period 3A, Floor Period 3A, Infill Period 3A, Occupation layer Period 3A, Reconstruction floor Period 3A, Midden 1A Period 3A, Midden 1B Period 3B, Build-up Period 3B, Construction layer Period 3B, Destruction layer Period 3B, Floor Period 3B, Infill Period 3B, Midden 2 east Period 3B, Midden 2 north Period 3B, Midden 4 Period 3B, Midden 5 Period 3B, Midden 5, top Period 3B, Midden 6 Period 3B, Midden 7 Period 3B, Midden 9 Period 3B, Occupation layer Period 3B, Reconstruction build-up Period 3B, Reconstruction dome Period 3B, Reconstruction road surfacing Topsoil

The Excavations of San Giovanni di Ruoti Volume II The Small Finds

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Introduction

This is a catalogue of instrumenta domestica from the Canadian excavations at San Giovanni di Ruoti, Basilicata, Italy. The objects discussed here represent most of the non-ceramic artifacts of the occupants of a remote site in Lucania from approximately the beginning of the Principate of Augustus to that uncertain period of 'continuity' that marks the end of the Roman administration in the West and the beginnings of a new reality. In all, these articles represent rather a small collection. Of the first two phases of occupation, Period 1 is barely distinguishable through the associated small finds. Period 2 is similarly represented badly in terms of assignable objects. Most of the site, however, appears to have been abandoned around the middle of the sixth century after Christ with some deliberate destruction. Thus, it may be that personal articles and most of the useful and portable material (such as lead pipe, scrap metal, or tools) were carried off by the former occupants - or by subsequent scavengers - leaving relatively little behind for archaeologists to recover. From the evidence of the minor objects retrieved by the Canadian team, we can see that the rural villa at San Giovanni di Ruoti was only moderately prosperous in the first two periods of habitation. In the last phase of occupation, however, the recovered artifacts seem to reflect an enhanced degree of prosperity, similar to (or greater than) that recorded on 17 July 564 at Ravenna for the contemporary, urban dweller Stephen (Burns 1980, 109ff.; cf. Randsborg 1991,

158-160). (For the list of Stephen's inheritance, see Appendix 2.) A skill noted, especially in that final period of occupation and that may indicate some degree of enhanced economic status for the occupants (given the requirement for a rudimentary education or a scribe), is literacy. Even if, as it may well be suspected, not all the articles identified as 'associated with writing' (208-232) have been securely classified, enough styli were found to confirm this activity. Nevertheless, however the finds may be interpreted, the minor objects may really suggest no more personal wealth or greater economic status than that which is to be expected in any remote, upland region of Italy (cf. Barnish 1987,178f.). Even though San Giovanni di Ruoti was occupied during its greatest period of vigour in a time when Christianity was already well established, there is no evidence among the nonceramic objects for adherence to the faith. On the other hand, what little evidence there is for matters of belief (the amulet, 369; the copper alloy lar familiaris, 365; or the 'magical' nail, 366), need not be taken to suggest an absolute adherence in the late fourth, fifth, and early sixth centuries after Christ to pagan and old Roman practices. The final period of the occupation of the site was contemporary with the Gothic settlement of northern Italy and the garrisoning of the South (Wolfram 1988, 295ff.). It was also a century of increasing instability. During the very last years of habitation, from 542, the Gothic king Totila

4 Introduction occupied much of southern Italy including Lucania. Nevertheless, although the 'Germanic' reality was strongly felt, the actual number of Goths under arms in southern Italy was small (cf. Wolfram 1988, 298). Not surprisingly, then, there is no securely identifiable evidence from the nonceramic objects for a 'Germanic' presence at San Giovanni di Ruoti. Nevertheless, there are a few objects that may indicate a 'Germanic' influence (e.g., the 'bird' brooches, 59, 60, 61; a finger r 70; a buckle tongue, 109; the projectile point, 375). While these do not give clear evidence for the ethnic origins or nationality of the occupants, when viewed in combination with other factors discussed in Volume I (e.g., dining customs), a non-Roman occupation in the last period of habitation is conjectured by the General Editors. PHASES AND DATES OF OCCUPATION According to the stratigraphy, wall construction, and pottery evidence, there were three main or identifiable periods of occupation. These 'Periods' are those referred to in the Catalogue entries. Period 1 This phase of occupation (see Fig. 3) evidently lasted from the turn of the millenium to the early part of the third century, when the site was abandoned for a while. Much of the building was destroyed in subsequent periods. A carefully recorded stratigraphic sequence has been identified as 'occupation' (Pl/O), 'floor' (Pl/F), 'destruction' (Pl/D), and 'infill' (PI/I). However, not much remains for a proper interpretation of this period. Period 2 Evidence for this period of occupation (see Figs. 4, 5, and 6) is not much better. Occupation appears to have lasted from the middle of the fourth century to the beginning of the fifth century after Christ. The phases of occupation have been ordered in a similar fashion to Period 1: 'build-up' (P2/B), 'occupation' (P2/O), 'floor' (P2/F), 'destruction' (P2/D), and 'infill' (P2/I).

Thus, in tabular form and based on the pottery evidence presented by J. Freed in volume I: TABLE 1 Chronology Period

Midden

P1 P2 P3A P3B

M1A M1B M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9

Date

1-220 350-400 400-460 400-430 430-460 460-545 400-545 460-500 460-500 490-535 490-545 490-535 490-535 490-535

Note: This revises table 5 of volume I, p. 120. For discussion, see the text ibid.

Period 3 Unlike the two earlier periods of occupation, this period has been divided for the purposes of discussion into two main phases of occupation: Period 3A (ca. 400-460) (see Fig. 7) and Period 3B (ca. 460-545) (see Figs. 9,10). In each of these, certain naturally sequential phases of habitation were evident: 'build-up' (P3A/B and P3B/B), 'occupation' (P3A/O and P3B/O), 'floor' (P3A/F and P3B/F), and 'destruction' (P3A/D and P3B/ D). In addition, nine middens have been identified (see Fig. 8), and these have been categorized according to both a relative chronological and stratigraphic sequence (for example, P3A/M1A and P3B/M5T). Midden 1 was associated with Period 3A, which lasted from approximately the turn of the fifth century, according to the pottery evidence, to some time in the third quarter of the fifth century of our era. Midden 1A appears to represent occupation of the site from around 400 to ca. 430. The later phase of the same midden (1B)represents later occupation in Period 3A, ca. 430-460. Middens 3-7 are associated with Period 3B. That phase of occupation is dated to the end of the fifth century and the first half of the sixth century of our era.

Introduction 5 Of the remaining three refuse dumps, Middens 2 and 9 contained mixed material of the whole of Period 3. Midden 8, not yet fully analysed, can be dated stratigraphically to Period 3B, since it represents a continuation of Midden 7, spilling over a destroyed wall of Period 3A into the adjacent Room 33. While Period 3 has been divided into two main phases, it must be emphasized that occupation from the very late fourth and early fifth centuries to the second quarter of the sixth century was found to be essentially continuous. The balance of the evidence suggests that continuous occupation of the site terminated around the middle of the sixth century. THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CATALOGUE The material presented in this Catalogue is organized according to perceived function rather than to types of material or their mineralogical composition. Thus, apart from 'miscellaneous fixtures and fittings' and "objects currently unidentifiable' - where division by type of material rather than use makes a certain sense - categories such as 'Objects of Bone' and 'Objects of Iron' are not to be found. The major classes of material have been further subdivided, again according to perceived use. Thus, the category 'articles of dress, adornment, or toilet' has been divided into smaller classes: 'hairpins', 'rings/ and so on. Each of these subcategories is ordered also according to the 'Periods' of occupation referred to above. Thus, the 'hairpins' of Period 1 precede those of Period 2, and so on. It must be admitted that the identification of several of the objects (for example, some of the styli or iron tines) is not totally secure. A question mark, '?', indicates hesitant identifications in the Catalogue. In this Catalogue of non-ceramic small finds, no attempt has been made to form typological sequences peculiar to San Giovanni di Ruoti. A single site cannot yield such sequences for such finds, disiecta membra for the most part, in a meaningful fashion. What is required for typological studies is a wider sample of minor objects from contemporary sites elsewhere in this

remote area of southern Italy. Also, comparanda are given in the Catalogue primarily for ease of recognition. As many of the objects discussed in the Catalogue as possible are illustrated, mostly in linedrawings but a few also in half-tone plates. (The photographs are not to a uniform scale. Dimensions may be ascertained in the catalogue entries.) In the minority of cases where the objects are not illustrated, that circumstance is made clear. All classes of material, however, are represented in the illustrations and all the objects were subject to personal examination by the author in the magazines at Potenza before dispersal of many of the articles to Grumento, also in Basilicata. The current disposition of the minor objects All the objects of metal, bone, and other material are currently held in the magazines of the Soprintendenza archeologica della Basilicata, Potenza and Grumento. They are stored in much the same fashion as they were packed during the seasons of excavation: mostly in acid-free paper bags. The bags, porous and therefore not subject to rapid deterioration owing to excessive humidity, are placed in an atmospherically controlled climate in wooden boxes. Format of Catalogue entries As far as possible each Catalogue entry has been standardized according to a common format. Thus, an entry begins with an identification of the article followed by a 'small find' number (SF00000) in five digits. These numbers refer also to the excavation season in which the objects were discovered. The SF numbers were assigned in a numeric sequence on site and were subsequently transferred to 'small finds' record sheets by Claude Roberto. The record sheets contained basic and essential information concerning preliminary identification of the objects, their dimensions, the coordinates of their discovery, and their place in the stratigraphic sequence such 'layer' numbers also being assigned on site according to common archaeological practice.

6

Introduction

(This detailed information is available in the Archives of the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E4.) Next in the Catalogue entries are the dimensions of the articles. In those cases where the article is intact, absolute dimensions are given. In other cases, statements such as 'preserved length, etc. indicate the fragmentary nature of the article. Dimensions appropriate to a particular object are given. Thus, an object's dimensions may be described according to its length or maximum width and thickness. In other cases, emphasis is placed on diameter, whether 'restored' or extant. After this basic information, the particular objects are described in detail, and where comparanda could be found, these are referred to in an abbreviated bibliographic form. A full bibliography is given at the end of the Catalogue. In most cases where comparanda are given, it should be observed that similarities may be more the result of a like taste than common chronology. Most comparanda, of necessity, have been drawn from sites in the Roman world that are remote from San Giovanni di Ruoti. Next is an entry termed 'Date of comparanda.' It must be emphasized that this does not refer to the time of deposition (given in parentheses following 'Period'), but rather to the supposed date of manufacture of a particular object. This is a time frame assigned on the basis of comparanda from outside San Giovanni only. In those cases where it has been impossible to assign a certain date of manufacture, the 'Date of comparandá is given as 'uncertain.' Next, 'Room numbers' are given and a discussion follows this section of the report that relates the material to individual areas of the site. Room numbers have not been recorded in this report for the unstratified material. Unstratified material, by definition, cannot be associated with any specific context, except to say that we know it was found at San Giovanni di Ruoti. Finally, 'Periods' assigned by the excavators follow. These are based on stratigraphic sequences and with dates assigned according to the associated finds. It should be noted that all dates refer to years of the Christian era unless explicitly stated otherwise.

THE MINOR OBJECTS AS DATING EVIDENCE The minor objects do not provide secure chronological termini for any of the major periods of occupation. However, in those cases where dates of manufacture could be assigned, the dates were found to be broadly consistent with those arrived at by colleagues who relied on other evidence, in particular the ceramic evidence adduced by Joann Freed, which is presented in Volume I and elsewhere (cf. Freed 1983, 1985; Small and Freed 1986). Period 1 There were few datable objects recovered from Period 1 contexts. However, two hairpins were found that may be placed in the first to late second centuries of our era (2, 3). This is a date consistent with the ceramic and other evidence. Period 2 For Period 2, the most reliable object for dating was the T-shaped' brooch, 58. The brooch almost certainly was made in the late second to early fourth centuries. On the basis of the pottery recovered, the date accords well with that assigned to P2A construction, ca. 350. It is a date that is also generally supported by the hairpins: 8, from a construction context, may be dated to the second to third centuries; so too hairpins 17 and 21, which were recovered from a floor. Hairpin 26, also recovered from a floor, dates from the mid-third to early fifth centuries, and is probably earlier rather than later in that range. Three hairpins found in Period 2 'occupation' layers, specifically in Room 19, may each be dated to some time from the early third to the early fifth centuries (4, 6, 22). The same is true of the hairpins found in 'destruction' contexts (5, 11, 20, 27). Generally, however, the hairpins of Period 2 yield a date wider in span and less exact than that assigned to Period 2 on the basis of the ceramic evidence. Period 3A There is some evidence that may be elicited from

Introduction 7 the minor objects for Period 3A. Two hairpins, 32 and 33, may be placed within a range from the last half of the third century to the first half of the fifth century after Christ. This is a date consistent with the ceramic evidence and is one that may be supported by several fragments of bone combs (54, 55, 56), a bracelet (85), and a buckle tongue (104). Period 3B Period 3B, according to the ceramic evidence, appears to have lasted approximately from the second half of the fifth century to the second quarter of the sixth century after Christ. Here too, several personal articles of dress or adornment appear essentially to corroborate that evidence: the 'bird' brooches (59, 60, 61) may be placed within the late sixth to seventh centuries and the 'Schalenfibel' (62) within H.W. Böhme's 'Typ Krefeld-Gellep' (1974, 29ff.). The buckle tongue, 109, which is among the latest objects recovered from San Giovanni di Ruoti, also has compamnda in the second half of the sixth century. Middens 2 and 9 contained mixed material of the whole of Period 3, which has not yet been fully analysed. A fragment of a gold finger ring (70) seems to be of mid-sixth-century manufacture and is the latest datable object found in Midden 2. The lead mirror frame (127) from Midden M9 is dated to the late-fifth or early-sixth century. There are other articles that act as evidence for dating purposes. The iron auger and beam gouge (275, 278) are paralleled at Sardis in a period spanning the late fourth and early sixth centuries (Waldbaum 1983, 53). Again, these objects are consistent with the dates assigned to Period 3B on other grounds. Another iron object, the projectile head (375), may date from the late third century to the late fifth or early sixth century after Christ, although that is less certain. It was found in a Period 3B 'occupation' layer. In addition to these, a furniture applique (300) was also found in a Period 3B context. In the form of a fully modelled head, it was discovered in a midden, M7. The midden is dated to the very last years of the fifth century and the first half of the sixth century after Christ. The fragmentary cast copper alloy corner of a

table or chair leg (305) has a parallel in a diptych of Areovindus (cf. Lehmann 1990,162f.). It, however, has many earlier antecedents and, given its recovery from a Period 2 'occupation' layer, clearly was not associated with the latest period of occupation at San Giovanni di Ruoti. Finally, there are five copper alloy sewing needles that were discovered in Period 3B layers. While not certainly datable to the last hundred years of occupation at the site, they are very similar in appearance. Each has thread guides above and below the eye and each has a flattened, elongated head (133, 134, 137, 138, 140). Four were found in 'destruction' layers, while the fifth (133) was found in Midden 4, dated on the pottery evidence to ca. 460-500. These sewing needles might serve as useful comparanda for future scholars. THE MINOR OBJECTS AS EVIDENCE FOR DAILY LIFE The approximately four hundred articles in the Catalogue were used in the day-to-day life of the occupants of the Roman villa at San Giovanni di Ruoti. It is tempting, therefore, to review the distribution of the non-ceramic objects across the site to see if any area or 'Room' might be associated, on the basis of the objects recovered, with a particular activity. Objects that might suggest a domestic or personal function could be articles of dress or adornment-hairpins, brooches, belt fittings, and so on. Work activities might be evidenced by the distribution of tools or implements associated with cultivation or animal husbandry. Of course, such an arbitrary distinction can be suspect. One need only recall Euclio's instructions in Plautus' Aulularia (95ff.) to Staphyla not to lend anyone a knife, axe, pestle, or mortar. Several articles recovered at San Giovanni di Ruoti clearly cut across broad boundaries. In particular, such items as sewing needles and loom weights might be expected to turn up in domestic quarters as well as in areas dedicated to some form of 'cottage' industry.

Constraints First, there is a need to discriminate among the

8 Introduction objects found according to the periods of inhabitation that have been discussed above. A second necessity in reviewing the non-ceramic objects is to understand that objects recovered in phases associated with building and destruction may not be representative of the particular period of occupation in which they were found. They may, in fact, be survivals from an earlier period or, in the case of those found in layers associated with destruction, have been deposited by the new occupants. Thus, objects assigned to Period 2/F ('floor') might be survivals from Period 1. Indeed, the survival of an object from one period to another is well illustrated by the reuse of a loomweight in P2/I as building material (148). Similarly, articles recovered from Period 2/D ('destruction') contexts might really have been deposited in Period 3A/F. An exception to the latter case, of course, is that phase associated with the final abandonment of the site, Period 3B/D. Objects from this phase are more likely to be in context since there were no later inhabitants, although some may have been deposited after the abandonment, when the building was plundered for reusable materials. A third constraint on using the minor objects as evidence for function exists in the possibility that the objects found in one period may in themselves be anachronistic. For example, the 'lar familiaris' (365), while found in a Period 3B floor, might have been brought to the site by a newcomer or passed down from previous occupants. Fourth, it must be recognized that at a site such as San Giovanni di Ruoti, there is the great probability that individual rooms may have served a variety of purposes even within one phase of occupation. The minor objects recovered in the 'occupation' phase may, therefore, be indicative of an area's use only at a particular time. Finally, there is the matter of those objects recovered from the middens of Period 3. They are certainly of value in assessing the site's relative wealth and perhaps also serve to indicate the economic base for San Giovanni di Ruoti. Obviously, however, such material does not indicate any function for the areas in which the middens were placed.

The tables Six of the following tables record the occurrence of instrumenta domestica in individual rooms in successive periods. The material from unstratified contexts (TO), of course, is not represented. Table 9 records the contents of each of the nine middens. Table 10 may be the most informative. It records only those objects that were recovered from 'occupation' contexts associated with each period of habitation. Nevertheless, the information that can be elicited from Table 10 is scanty. For Period 1, the 'occupation' record for Room 3 reveals only a 'stylus' (208), for Room 9 a single gaming counter (356), and for Room 75 a sewing needle (128) and a clearly anachronistic obsidian flake (237). The evidence for Period 2 is equally slender except perhaps for Room 19. That Room's 'occupation' layers yielded five hairpins (4, 6, 22, 25). A sewing needle was also found (130) as was an applique for some article of furniture (304). On the basis of that record, it may be suggested that Room 19 was domestic rather than industrial. The other rooms for which there is an 'occupation' record in Period 2 are Room 13 (a split pin/ ring staple, 335), Room 64 (a loom weight, 149), and area F98 (an iron blade for cutting or slicing, 243, and another furniture applique, 305). Period 3A fares no better than its precursor. Room 19, which in this period was an open space outside the building, yielded only a hairpin (30). Room 42 has only six objects - a hairpin (31), a copper alloy plate (378), an uncatalogued fragment of iron (SF04651), an iron ring (391), and rolled lead cylinders (SF04652a, b - classified as 'building material' and, therefore, not to be found in the following Catalogue). The 'occupation' record for rooms inhabited during Period 3B demonstrates an equal paucity of evidence. An iron blade for slicing was recovered from Room 30 (249) and a fragment of lead pipe was discovered in Room 38 (SF10364 - see above, SF046452a, b). The latter article has been discussed by A.M. Small in Volume I (no. 297, p. 146). More articles were recovered from Room 43. In the 'occupation' layers of that room there were a 'stylus' (215), an iron blade for slicing (261), an iron chisel (274), a metal ring (349), and

Introduction 9 an iron projectile head (375). The last object is the only piece of weaponry found at San Giovanni di Ruoti. Period 3B 'occupation' layers yielded a single gaming piece in Room 46 (362), two lead objects in Room 50, one of which is catalogued here (350), a lead rivet in Room 62 (351), a bracelet or armlet in Room 64 (87), a 'stylus' case in Room 67 (230), and a copper alloy band in Room 75 (380). Room 71/72, which served as a corridor, yielded a hairpin (48), a 'ligula' (120), an iron blade for slicing (259), and fragments of copper alloy plate (385a,b). If we expand our search for evidence of function to include all securely stratified material (always excluding middens), we are not much better off. It might be suggested for Period 1 (see Table 2) that Room 9 had a domestic function, and that Room 18 might have been used for textile manufacture. Table 3 appears to corroborate the suggestions made for Room 19 in Period 2. In all, that room yielded eleven hairpins and, in addition to the objects already mentioned, a belt strengthener (99) and an uncertain terracotta mould (368). That Room 19 may have been used for habitation purposes is made even more likely by the fact that there was a hearth (F490) near the centre of its clay floor. Other suggestions might be made on the basis of items listed in Table 3. Thus, Room 64 might have been given over to agricultural or industrial purposes; so too the area F98. Room 69, with three hairpins, might have been domestic. For Period 3A, Room 42 appears to have had a domestic function (see Table 4). At first sight, Table 6 (Period 3B) appears to yield the best evidence available. Thus, Rooms 35, 36, 62, and F723 might be thought to have had an essentially domestic function - although identified as late Period 3B work areas in Volume I (cf. 175, 221f., 227). In Volume I, it is suggested that staircases to the west of Room 35 and to the east of Room 39 led to an upper storey ('maenianum') above Rooms 35, 36, 37, and 38. The domestic articles would then have fallen from the upper storey. Objects found in the northern undercroft (Rooms 57, 58, 59, 60, 62, 63) appear to bear out

the suggestion made that the upper rooms of this complex were primarily domestic. Perhaps the clearest indication of domestic activity is the 'lar familiaris' (365), perhaps redeposited in a floor in Room 58 and the figurine base (364) found in a P3B destruction context in Room 62. A certain degree of woodworking rather than stoneworking activity is perhaps indicated also by the iron chisels (266, 267, 270) recovered in 'build-up' and 'destruction' contexts in Room 58 and by similar articles recovered in Room 59. These objects (including a quernstone, 182, the chisel, 269, and the loop-headed spike, 328) may represent the use to which the lower rooms were put. The middens (Table 9) As I have observed earlier, middens are evidence merely of refuse disposal. The rooms in which they were deposited clearly no longer functioned in any other capacity. One question that might be posed, however, is what was the function of areas from which the midden contents might have been collected (assuming that these areas would have been adjacent or close to the middens). The middens of Period 3A (M1A and M1B) lie outside the building of that period, to the north and northwest of Room 30. The contents of M1A and M1B are primarily personal or domestic in nature and the high quality of the glass remains perhaps indicates a certain degree of prosperity. The middens that accumulated during the last century of occupation at San Giovanni di Ruoti (Period 3B) are a little more diverse. The small midden lying to the south of Room 43 (M2) yielded objects of a personal nature including the late and fragmentary gold finger ring (70). Room 43 was a terrace that allowed access to the Period 3 bath suite through a door in its east wall. It might be suggested, then, that the contents of M2 confirm the essentially domestic nature of the upper rooms adjacent to Room 43. The small midden over Room 77 (M3) also contained personal articles. The refuse most likely came from the north-south passageway, Room 65, or even from the larger apsidal structure to the north, Room 57 and Room 58. M3,

10

Introduction

however, represents an early phase in Period 3B, for Room 77 was brought back to use later in the period. The midden that accumulated in Room 31 (M4) had personal objects as well as articles associated primarily with woodworking; that which covered Room 78 (M5) contained articles less domestic than industrial, that is, chisels, drill bits, and other such objects. The contents of both middens, therefore, suggest that they were near or adjacent to workshop areas - most likely to the south of Room 78 and to the east of Room 31. The main structures in that area were the main east-west corridor, Room 71/72, and the stables (later workshops) Rooms 35,36, 37,38. The midden overlying Room 67 (M6) contained articles of an essentially domestic nature. Again, this accords with the primarily domestic function of the adjacent rooms: those to the north

above the lower Rooms 59, 60, 62, and 63, the dining area Room 61, and the eastern passageway to the bath suite Room 68. The small rubbish heaps that accumulated in Rooms 34 and 43 (M7) and Room 42 (M9) had similar contents, mostly of a personal nature. The lead pendant mirror (127) was recovered from M9. Room 34 was a north-south corridor between the range of stables mentioned above and Rooms 30 and 31; Room 43 was the eastwest terrace. Room 73 was the south-west corner of the later villa. M7 and M9, on the evidence of their pottery, date from 490 to 535 for M7 and 400 to 545 for M9. 'Industrial' activity, however, is hard to discern, despite the fact that Rooms 35 to 38 were converted from stables to workshops during the last years of occupation.

TABLE 2 Room contents: Period 1 Room

Number

Description

Context

Total

3

208

Stylus

Pl/O

1

9

1 143 144 356

Hairpin Loom weight Loom weight Gaming piece

Pl/F Pl/D Pl/D Pl/O

1 2 1

18

146 147 289

Loom weight Loom weight Fish hook

Pl/B Pl/B Pl/D

2 1

19

3

Hairpin

Pl/D

1

41

163

Spindle whorl

Pl/D

1

44

167 242

Ter. weight Fe blade

Pl/D Pl/D

1 1

58

145

Loom weight

Pl/D

1

75

128 237

Sewing needle Obsidian flake

Pl/O Pl/O

1 1

A102

2 129 166 357 376

Hairpin Sewing needle Ter. weight Gaming piece CM alloy frags.

PI /I PI /I PI /I PI /I PI/I

1 1 1 1 1

Introduction 11 TABLE 3 Room contents: Period 2 Room

Number

Description

Context

Total

9

7 390 377a,b 8 19 23 100 244 335 367 234 4 5 6 15 17 18 20 21 22 24 25 99 130 304 368 12 67 9 26 27 98 307 233 58 16 315 149 179 399 306 10 11 13 400 243 305 34 131

Hairpin Fe frag. CM alloy frags. Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Fe buckle Fe blade Ring staple Ter. snake head Stone weight Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Belt strengthener Sewing needle Furniture appl. Ter. mould Hairpin Finger ring Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Buckle plate Furniture appl. Pendant/weight Brooch Hairpin Fe key Loom weight Quernstone Bone point Furniture appl. Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Pb mass Fe blade Furniture appl. Ring staple Sewing needle

P2/I P2/F P2/I P2/B P2/I P2/F P2/I P2/D P2/O P2/D P2/F P2/O P2/D P2/O P2/D P2/F P2/F P2/D P2/F P2/O P2/O P2/O P2/D P2/O P2/O P2/D P2/D P2/D P2/I P2/F P2/D P2/I P2/D P2/B P2/B P2/B P2/B P2/O P2/D P2/D P2/D P2/D P2/D P2/D P2/D P2/0 P2/O P2/D P2/D

1 1 2

13

18 19

24 27 29

31 41 58 64

65 69

F98

F125

3 1 1 1 1 1

11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

3 1 1 1 1 1

12 Introduction TABLE 4 Room contents: Period 3A (excluding middens) Room

Number

Description

Context

Total

19

30

Hairpin

P3A/O

1

34

150

Loom weight

P3A/F

1

42

31 378 391

Hairpin Cu alloy plate Fe ring

P3A/O P3A/O P3A/O

1 1 1

46

400

Wood plaque

P3A/RF

1

49

119 379 392

'Ligula' Cu alloy point Fe mass

P3A/B P3A/B P3A/B

1 1 1

50

75

Earring

P3A/RB

1

F654

32 33

Hairpin Hairpin

P3A/D P3A/D

2

TABLE 5 Room contents: Period 3A (middens) Room

Number

Description

Context

Total

5

28 29 85 102 118 168a,b 246 308 309

Hairpin Hairpin Bracelet Belt appl. 'Ligula' Circular weight Fe blade CM alloy ferrule Cu alloy ferrule

MIA M1B MIA M1B M1B M1B M1B M1B MIA

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

64

68 103 104 280 369

Finger ring Belt appl. Buckle tongue CM alloy tool Amulet

MIA M1B MIA MIA MIA

1 1 1 1 1

69

54 32 180 290 29 98 325

Bone comb frag. Sewing needle Quernstone Bone tool Bone peg Bone plaque Loop-head spike

M1B M1B MIA MIA MIA M1B MIA

1 1 1 1 1 1 1

101

Belt plate

M1B

1

Cistern F723

Introduction 13 TABLE 6 Room contents: Period 3B (excluding middens) Room

Number

Description

Context

Total

5

169 193

Ter. weight Stone mortar

P3B/D P3B/D

1 1

30

95 211 249 268

Glass bead 'Stylus' Fe blade Chisel

P3B/F P3B/D P3B/O P3B/B

1 1 1 1

31

78 111 338 339

Earring Buckle plate Ring staple Ring staple

P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D

1 1 2

33

88

Bracelet

P3B/D

1

34

227

'Stylus' case

P3B/D

1

35

80 138 139 318 331

Earring Sewing needle Sewing needle Key (lever) Loop-head spike

P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D

1

57 60 61 121 175 184 228 273

Bone comb frag. Brooch Brooch 'Ligula' Ter. weight Quernstone 'Stylus' case Fe gouge

P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D

47 205 275 277 279 278 301 386

Hairpin Stone basin Fe auger Fe chisel Fe chisel Beam gouge Bone inlay CM alloy handle

P3B/D P3B/F P3B/D P3B/D P3B/F P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D

4 1 1

38

295

Fe spike

P3B/D

1

43

137 173 174 215 258 261 274 303 349 375 235

Sewing needle Ter. weight Ter. weight 'Stylus' Fe blade Fe blade Fe chisel Bone inlay Metal ring Projectile head Pb weight

P3B/D P3B/F P3B/F P3B/O P3B/D P3B/O P3B/O P3B/F P3B/O P3B/O P3B/F

1

36

37

2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1

14 Introduction TABLE 6 Room contents: Period 3B (excluding middens) (continued) Room

Number

Description

Context

Total

46

112 204a-d 362

Strap hanger Stone basin Gaming piece

P3B/D P3B/D P3B/O

1 1 1

50

350

Pb rivet

P3B/O

1

52

294

Fe linch pin (?)

P3B/D

1

54

110

Buckle plate

P3B/D

1

56

213 236

'Stylus' Steelyard

P3B/B P3B/B

1 1

57

36 311

Hairpin CM alloy appl.

P3B/F P3B/B

1 1

58

37 59 76 105 106 170 207 181 191 210 212 223 240 26 267 270 282 286 296 365 363

Hairpin Brooch Earring Buckle plate Belt appl. Ter. weight Cu alloy rim Quernstone Stone mortar 'Stylus' 'Stylus' 'Stylus' case Bone blade Fe chisel Fe chisel Fe chisel Bone awl Fe tine Pb ring

1 1 1

Bone flute frag.

P3B/B P3B/F P3B/RR P3B/B P3B/D P3B/F P3B/D P3B/B P3B/B P3B/D P3B/F P3B/B P3B/D P3B/B P3B/D P3B/F P3B/F P3B/D P3B/D P3B/F P3B/F

59

71 108 152 182 269 328

Finger ring Belt buckle Loom weight Quernstone Chisel /gouge Loop-head spike

P3B/D P3B/D P3B/F P3B/B P3B/B P3B/D

1 1 1 1 1 1

60

287

Fe tine

P3B/D

1

61

109 232

Buckle tongue Seal box lid

P3B/D P3B/D

1 1

62

44 134 250 26 351 364

Hairpin Sewing needle Fe blade Fe blade Pb rivet Figurine base

P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D P3B/O P3B/D

1 1

'Lar familiaris'

2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1

2 1 1

Introduction 15 TABLE 6 Room contents: Period 3B (excluding middens) (continued) Room

Number

Description

Context

Total

64

87 192 281 326

Bracelet Stone mortar Awl/punch Loop-head spike

P3B/O P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D

1 1 1 1

65

51

Loom weight

P3B/D

1

67

230

'Stylus' case

P3B/O

1

68

171 329

Ter. weight Loop-head spike

P3B/D P3B/D

1 1

69

35 10 327

Hairpin CM alloy ferrule Loop-head spike

P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D

1 1 1

71,72

39 48 72 7 120 57 165 199 216 29 241 257 259 264 302 332 333 374 361 385a,b 397 353

Hairpin Hairpin Finger ring Belt appl. Loom weight Spindle whorl Stone mortar 'Stylus' 'Stylus' case Bone handle Fe blade Fe blade Fe blade Furniture appl. Loop-head spike Loop-head spike Loop spur Gaming piece CM alloy plate Fe plate Pb T-clamp

P3B/B P3B/O P3B/RR P3B/B P3B/O P3B/D P3B/D P3B/C P3B/RR P3B/RR P3B/RR P3B/D P3B/O P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D P3B/O P3B/O P3B/D P3B/RR

75

380

CM alloy band

P3B/O

1

76

370 395a,b

Bridle fitting Fe frags.

P3B/D P3B/F

1 1

77

194 195 209 247 248 387

Stone mortar Stone mortar 'Stylus' Fe blade Fe blade CM alloy plate

P3B/D P3B/RF P3B/RF P3B/F P3B/F P3B/D

78

299

Furniture appl.

P3B/D

1

F723

34 69 86

Hairpin Finger ring Bracelet

P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D

1 1 1

'Ligula'

2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 1

2 1 2 1

16 Introduction TABLE 6 Room contents: Period 3B (excluding middens) (concluded) Room

'East'

Number

Description

Context

Total

126 284 285 316 323 359

Tweezers Fe tine Fe tine Key (lift) Hinge (pivot) Gaming piece

P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D P3B/D

1 2 1 1 1

200 217

Stone mortar 'Stylus'

P3B/D P3B/D

1 1

TABLE 7 Room contents: Period 3B (middens) Room

Number

Description

Context

Total

31

46 79 89 94 133 164 214 224 251 252 253 254 271 283 293 330 336 337 340 341 366

Hairpin Earring Bracelet Glass bead Sewing needle Spindle whorl 'Stylus' 'Stylus' case Fe blade Fe blade Fe blade Fe blade Fe chisel Fe pin Fe pin Loop-head spike Ring staple Ring staple Ring staple Linked ring staples Cu alloy nail

M4A M4A M4A M4A M4A M4A M4B M4A M4A M4A M4A M4A M4B M4A M4A M4A M4A M4A M4A M4A M4B

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

33

183

Quernstone

M8

1

34

38 300 372 393

Hairpin Furniture app. Penannular ring Iron fixture

M7B M7 M7 M7

1 1 1 1

43

56 62 91 92 260 262

Bone comb frag. Brooch Bracelet Bracelet Fe blade Fe blade

M7A M7A M7B M7B M7A MB7A

1 1

4 1 2 1

4 1

2 2

Introduction 17 TABLE 7 Room contents: Period 3B (middens) (concluded) Room

Number

Description

Context

Total

67

40 77 90 196 256 292 348 396

Hairpin Earring Bracelet Stone mortar Fe blade Fe spike Fe socket Fe plate

M6A M6B M6A M6B M6A M6M M6M M6B

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

71,72

41 226

Hairpin 'Stylus' case

M5T M7

1 1

77

42 43 45 55 381 382

Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Bone comb frag. Cu alloy plate CM alloy band

M3 M3 M3 M3 M3 M3

3 1 1 1

113 140 172 197 255 272a,b 276 313 383 384 394

Buckle loop Sewing needle Circular weight Stone mortar Fe blade Fe drill bits Fe chisel Cu alloy ferrule CM alloy band CM alloy band Fe plate

M5T M5T M5T M5T M5T M5T M5T M5L M5T M5T M5T

78

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1

TABLE 8 Room contents: Period 3 undifferentiated (middens) Room

Number

Description

Context

Total

S. of 43

70 81 122 155 201 218 225 322 346a,b,c 360 401

Finger ring Earring 'Ligula' Loom weight Stone mortar 'Stylus' 'Stylus' case Lock plate (?) Fe fittings Gaming piece Bone object

M2N M2N M2W M2S M2N M2N M2WT M2WT M2S M2S M2E

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

42

123 124 127 141

'Ligula' 'Ligula Mirror frame Sewing needle

M9 M9 M9 M9

2 1 1

18 Introduction TABLE 9 Contents of middens Room

Number

Description

Context

Total

1

28 68 85 104 180 280 291 309 325 369 29 54 101 102 103 118 132 168a,b 246 298 308

Hairpin Finger ring Bracelet Buckle tongue Quernstone Cu alloy tool Bone peg CM alloy ferrule Loop-head spike Amulet Hairpin Bone comb frags. Cu alloy plate CM alloy plate Belt strengthener

MIA MIA MIA MIA MIA MIA MIA MIA MIA MIA M1B M1B M1B M1B M1B M1B M1B M1B M1B M1B M1B

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1

70 81 122 155 201 218 225 322 346a,b,c) 360 401

Finger ring Earring Loom weight Stone mortar 'Stylus' 'Stylus' case Lock plate (?) Fe fittings Gaming piece Bone object

M2N M2N M2W M2S M2N M2N M2WT M2WT M2S M2S M2E

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

42 43 45 55 381 382

Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Bone comb frag. CM alloy plate Cu alloy band

M3 M3 M3 M3 M3 M3

3 1 1 1

46 79 89 94 133 164 214 224 251 252 253 254 271

Hairpin Earring Bracelet Glass bead Sewing needle Spindle whorl 'Stylus' 'Stylus' case Fe blade Fe blade Fe blade Fe blade Fe chisel

M4A M4A M4A M4A M4A M4A M4B M4A M4A M4A M4A M4A M4B

2

3

4

'Ligula'

Sewing needle Ter. weights Fe blade Furniture appl. CM alloy ferrule

'Ligula'

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

4 1

Introduction 19 TABLE 9 Contents of middens (concluded) Total

Number

Description

Context

283 293 330 336 340 341 366

Fe pin Fe pin Loop-head spike Ring staple Ring staple Linked ring staples Cu alloy nail

M4A M4A M4A M4A M4A M4A M4B

41 113 140 172 197 255 272a,b 276 313 383 384 394

Hairpin Buckle loop Sewing needle Circular weight Stone mortar Fe blade Fe drill bits Fe chisel Cu alloy ferrule Cu alloy band Cu alloy band Fe plate

M5T M5T M5T M5T M5T M5T M5T M5T M5L M5T M5T M5T

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

6

40 77 90 196 256 292 348 396

Hairpin Earring Bracelet Stone mortar Fe blade Fe spike Fe socket Fe plate

M6A M6B M6A M6B M6A M6M M6M M6B

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

7

226 38 300 372 393 56 62 91 92 260 262

'Stylus' case Hairpin Furniture appl. Penannular ring Fe fixture Bone comb frag. Brooch Bracelet Bracelet Fe blade Fe blade

M7 M7B M7 M7 M7 M7A M7A M7B M7B M7A M7A

1 1 1 1 1 1 1

8

183

Quern

M8

1

9

123 124 127 141

'Ligula' 'Ligula'

M9 M9 M9 M9

2 1 1

Room

5

Mirror frame Sewing needle

2 1 4 1

2 1

2 2

20 Introduction TABLE 10 Room contents by occupation layers Room

Number

Description

Context

Total

Period 1: 3

208

'Stylus'

Pl/O

1

9

356

Gaming piece

Pl/O

1

75

128 237

Sewing needle Obsidian flake

Pl/O Pl/O

1 1

335

Ring staple

P2/O

1

4 6 22 24 25 130 304

Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Hairpin Sewing needle Furniture appl.

P2/O P2/O P2/O P2/0 P2/O P2/O P2/0

64

149

Loom weight

P2/0

1

F98

243 305

Fe blade Furniture appl.

P2/O P2/O

1 1

30

Hairpin

P3A/O

1

31 378 391

Hairpin CM alloy plate Fe ring

P3A/O P3A/O P3A/O

1 1 1

249

Fe blade

P3B/O

1

43

215 261 274 349 375

'Stylus' Fe blade Fe chisel Metal ring Projectile head

P3B/O P3B/O P3B/O P3B/O P3B/O

1 1 1 1 1

46

362

Gaming piece

P3B/O

1

50

350

Pb rivet

P3B/0

1

62

351

Pb rivet

P3B/O

1

64

87

Bracelet

P3B/O

1

67

230

'Stylus' case

P3B/0

1

71/72

48 120 259 361 385a,b 380

Hairpin

P3B/O P3B/O P3B/O P3B/O P3B/O P3B/0

1 1 1 1 1 1

Period 2: 13 19

Period 3A: 19 42

Period 3B: 30

75

'Ligula'

Fe blade Gaming piece CM alloy plate CM alloy band

5 1

Catalogue

I. ARTICLES OF ADORNMENT, DRESS, OR TOILET Hairpins, acus (Figs. 11,12)

Most of the objects in this class of material are clearly identifiable as 'hairpins/ even though none was found in a funerary context admitting absolute certainty of identification. Apart from being put to their more familiar function, hairpins (and sewing needles) had several other uses. Such pins and needles (when made of copper alloy) were used for minor surgical operations - for example, the lancing of boils and similar afflictions (Celsus 5.28.4; Pliny NH 26.5), drainage of haemorrhoids (Celsus 6.18.9), treatment of sciatica (Pliny NH 28.198), and for the removal of unwanted hair from eyebrows (Pliny NH 32.75). (See also Ruprechtsberger 1978, lOff.) Copper pins, too, were used in magical rites. One ancient spell 'for the binding of a lover' calls for thirteen such pins with which to pierce specific parts of a waxen or clay model of an embracing couple (PGM 4.296ff.). Several pins may also have had a secondary function as articles of dress, as fastenings (cf. Crummy 1983, 19). The main function of these objects, however, seems to be secure. (Cf. Ruprechtsberger 1978, 13f. for references to ancient depictions.) Were such objects used primarily to fasten garments, they should have had some form of abrasive or 'clinging' decoration that

would have inhibited their easy removal from cloth or leather. Brooches, like modern 'safety pins,' are secured to prevent accidental removal from the garment that is fastened. Hairpins, by contrast, often had decoration that assisted in their adhesion to the coiffure (cf. 2, 4, 18, 26, 27, 32,34,35,36,49,52). The material from which the San Giovanni di Ruoti hairpins were made is no indication of function. The pins are made of bone (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7,16,17,18,19, 20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 49, 50, 51, 52), ivory (4), or copper alloy (31, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46,47,48, 53). The number of hairpins recovered at San Giovanni di Ruoti, a site occupied discontinuously over several centuries, does not allow any typological study, even though the pins constitute the largest, accessible sample south of Naples published to date. The comparanda provided particularly by Crummy and Ruprechtsberger - in geographically remote contexts - provide no more than wide chronological termini for the date of manufacture of these articles. 1.

Hairpin (SF01145) Preserved length: 5.4 cm. Bone. Fragmentary with head and point missing. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 9. Pl/F (1-220).

2.

Hairpin (SF01800) Preserved length: 4.3 cm. Bone. Fragmentary with incised reel ornament beneath head (missing). Cf. Crummy Type 2. Date of comparanda: mid-first to late second century. Mill area, A102. PI/I (220 and later).

22 The Small Finds 3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Hairpin (SF04765) Length: 7.6 cm. Bone. Complete. Very slender, tapering shank with small and plain conical head. Cf. Crummy Type 1. Date of comparanda: mid-first to late second century (possibly earlier than above 2). Room 19. Pl/D (220). Hairpin (SF00023) Length: 8.3 cm. Ivory. Ovoid head with incised reels. Head (0.8 cm) is much thicker than the shank (maximum thickness: 0.5 cm.). Cf. Crummy Type 5; Leclerc 1982: No. 25 (30, PL 2-25). Date of comparanda: early third to late fifth century. Room 19. P2/O (350-400). Hairpin (SF00035) Length: 8.4 cm. Bone. Complete. Polyhedral head with long, tapering but fairly thick shank (0.5 cm maximum thickness). Cf. Crummy Type 4; Ruprechtsberger, 1978: No. 79. Date of comparanda: mid-third to late fourth/early fifth century. Room 19. P2/D (400). Hairpin (SF00036) Length: 7.9 cm. Bone. Almost complete but with tip missing. Plain ovoid head. Cf. Crummy Type 3. Date of comparanda: early third to late fourth/early fifth century. Room 19. P2/O (350400). Hairpin (SF00101) Length: 3.0 cm. Bone. Fragmentary. Polyhedral head with incised reel neck. The shank is thicker than the largest dimensions of the head. Cf. Crummy Type 4. Date of comparanda: mid-third to late fourth century. Room 9. P2/I (400 and later). Hairpin (SF00111) Preserved length: 4.4 cm. Bone. The head is elongated and without decoration. Cf. Ruprechtsberger 1978, Nos. 58-60; Dyson 1983, Fig. 196-19/21 (Vagni); Mercando et al. 1982, Tomb 51-4, 182f. (Bivio della Croce dei Missionari, Urbino); Tomb 101, 334a-g, 350, Fig. 204 (San Donato); Carta 1987, Fig. 156, 70 (Ostia), 164. Date of comparanda: second to third century. Room 13. P2/B (350). Hairpin (SF01095) Length: 5.0 cm. Bone. Fragmentary. Decoration of head is similar to 4 above. Ovoid with incised reels and neck with six incised reels. Cf. Crummy Type 4/5. Date of comparanda: mid-third to late fourth/early fifth century. Room 27. P2/I (400 and later).

10.

Hairpin (SF01122) Preserved length: 3.8 cm. Bone. Fragmentary. The head is a straight continuation of the shank, marked only by one incised line. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 69. P2/D (400).

11.

Hairpin (SF01138) Preserved length: 5.6 cm. Bone. The head is virtually flat, only 0.2 cm thick, with ring and

dot ornament on its surface. Cf. Ruprechtsberger 1978, Nos. 223-8. Date of comparanda: possibly second/third century. Room 69. P2/D (400). 12.

Hairpin (SF01146) Preserved length: 3.5 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with head and point missing. No decoration. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 24. P2/D (400).

13.

Hairpin (SF01377) Preserved length: 4.2 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with head missing. No distinguishing features. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 69. P2/D (400).

14.

Hairpin (SF01654) Preserved length: 4.2 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with head and point missing. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 18. P2/D (400).

15.

Hairpin (SF01699) Preserved length: 2.7 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with head and point missing. No discernible decoration. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 19. P2/D (400).

16.

Hairpin (SF01713) Preserved length: 1.8 cm. Bone. Fragmentary with head and point missing. No decorative features. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P2/B (350-400).

17.

Hairpin (SF03273) Length: 9.0 cm. Bone. Simple ovoid head lacking incised decoration. Similar to 8 above. Cf. Ruprechtsberger 1978, Nos. 58-60; Dyson 1983, Fig. 196-20 (Vagni, Italy); Mercando et al. 1982, above 8; Carta 1987, above 8. Date of comparanda: second/ third century. Room 19. P2/F (350-400).

18.

Hairpin (SF03274) Length: 10.2 cm. Bone. Ovoid head with incised circumlinear decoration. Four reels below head. Cf. Crummy Type 5; Dyson 1983, Fig. 196-13 (Vagni, Italy). Date of comparanda: mid-third to late fourth/early fifth century. Room 19. P2/F (350-400).

19.

Hairpin (SF04006) Preserved length: 8.0 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with head missing. Shaft is characteristic of hairpins found in third century contexts and later. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: early third to early fifth century. Room 13. P2/I (400 and later).

20.

Hairpin (SF04010) Preserved length: 4.8 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, broken through shank. Head is ovoid and has small terminal boss but no other decoration. The neck has been finely worked on a lathe, with two distinct reels decorating the upper part of the shank. Cf. Crummy Type 5. Date of comparanda: mid-third to late fourth/early fifth century. Room 19. P2/D (400).

The Small Finds 23 21.

Hairpin (SF04012) Length: 8.4 cm. Bone. Intact. Ovoid/subrectangular head, ca. 0.3 cm in crosssection. Cf. Ruprechtsberger 1978, No. 71; Dyson 1983, Fig. 53 (Vittimose); Carta 1987, above 8. Date of comparanda: uncertain, possibly second/third century. Room 19. P2/F (350-400).

22.

Hairpin (SF04048) Preserved length: (a) 2.2 cm; (b) 4.2 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, being broken in two. The head, neck, and half of the shaft (b) are quite plain and similar to above 8. The neck is narrow in relation to the maximum thickness of the shaft (0.45 cm). Cf. also Ruprechtsberger 1978, No. 125; Mercando et al. 1982, above 8; Carta 1987 above 8. Date of comparanda: second/third century. Room 19. P2/O (350-400).

23.

24.

Hairpin (SF04061) Preserved length: 4.9 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, broken at tip. Head is small and rounded with no other apparent decoration. Possibly Crummy Type 1. Cf. Ruprechtsberger 1978, No. 147; Dyson 1983, Fig. 196-17 (Vagni, Italy); also Mercando et al. 1982, above 8; Carta 1987, above 8. Date of comparanda: mid-first to early third century. Room 13. P2/ F (350-400). Hairpin (SF04063) Preserved length: 5.1 cm. Bone. Fragmentary with head missing. No apparent decoration. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 19. P2/O (350^00).

25.

Hairpin (SF04767) Preserved length: 5.4 cm. Bone. Fragmentary with head and point missing. No apparent decoration. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 19. P2/O (350-400).

26.

Hairpin (SF10172) Preserved length: 2.3 cm. Bone. Fragmentary; only the head and neck survive. The maximum thickness of the head (1.3 cm) is much greater than that of the neck (0.4 cm). Rising from a wide, flat base (1.1 cm), the head is ovoid (1.3 cm high). Three incised circumlinear lines decorate the extant portion of the neck. Most similar to Crummy Type 5. For a more exact parallel, see Dyson 1983,172, Fig. 331 (San Mauro, Italy). Date of comparanda: midthird to late fourth/early fifth century. Room 29. P2/F (350-400).

27.

Hairpin (SF10324) Preserved length: 6.0 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with head and point missing. The neck, however, survives in part and is decorated with four incised circumlinear lines. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: possibly third to late fourth century. Room 29. P2/D (400).

28.

Hairpin (SF00985) Preserved length: 2.8 cm. Max. width: 1.3 cm. Bone. The purpose of this object is uncertain. It most likely is the head and upper portion of a hairpin. However, it also resembles a comb used for marking the surface of a tile to form a key for the plaster (cf. Brodribb 1979,149). There is a handle (broken) and a spatulate terminus with six incised 'teeth.' Also 29 below. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 69. P3A/M1A (400-430).

29.

Hairpin (SF01092) Preserved length: 2.5 cm. Diameter of head: 0.4 cm. Length of head: 0.3 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with point and most of shaft missing. Simple circular head, relatively flat with no discernible decoration. Cf. Ruprechtsberger 1978, No. 227. Date of comparanda: uncertain but likely late. Room 5. P3A/M1B (430-460).

30.

Hairpin (SF01717) Preserved length: 2.8 cm; 1.1 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, in two pieces. Both ends broken. No discernible decoration. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 19. P3A/O (400-460).

31.

Hairpin (SF04751) Preserved length: 3.6 cm. Copper alloy. Ovoid in cross-section. Both ends are missing. Identification is not secure. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 42. P3A/O (400-460).

32.

Hairpin (SF10411) Preserved length: 7.5 cm. Bone. Fragmentary. Ovoid head, much thicker than the shank. Cf. Crummy Type 5; Dyson 1983, 172, No. 10, Fig. 331 (San Mauro, Italy). Date of comparanda: mid/ late third century to late fourth/early fifth century. F654, dolium contents. P3A/D (460).

33.

Hairpin (SF10233) Preserved length: 2.9 cm. Bone. Fragmentary with most of stem and head missing. Found in association with 32 above and perhaps part of the same object. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. F654, dolium contents. P3A/D (460).

34.

Hairpin (SF01015) Preserved length: 9.9 cm. Max. diameter: 0.4 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with incomplete head. Long, tapering shaft. Incised circumlinear ornament beneath head. The maximum diameter of the head is equal to that of the shaft (0.4 cm). Cf. Kenyon 1957, Fig. 114-23 (Samaria-Sebaste [Type C]). Date of comparanda: uncertain, probably late fourth/early fifth century. F723. P3B/D (545).

35.

Hairpin (SF01156) Preserved length: 6.8 cm. Max. diameter: 0.4 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with most of head missing. The division between the head and shaft is indicated merely by two circumlinear incisions. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 69. P3B/D (545).

24 The Small Finds 36.

37.

Hairpin (SF01773) Preserved length: 2.9 cm. Max. diameter: 0.4 cm. Bone. Fragmentary. Head is intact but most of the apparently untapered shaft is missing. The shaft, in comparison to the head (diameter: 0.25 cm), is relatively thick. The neck is indicated merely by two incised lines 0.7 cm. beneath the head. Cf. Kenyon 1957, Fig. 114-24 (Samaria-Sebaste [Type D]); Dyson 1983, Fig. 196-25/26 (Vagni, Italy). Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 57. P3B/F (460-545). Hairpin (SF01786) Preserved length: 7.0 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with point missing but head and most of shaft intact. Simple inverted conical head whose maximum diameter (0.6 cm) is greater than the maximum diameter of the shaft (0.4 cm.). Cf. Ruprechtsberger 1978, Nos. 161-2. Date of comparanda: uncertain but probably late fourth century. Room 58. P3B/B (460).

43.

Hairpin (SF00149) Length: 3.2 cm. Dimensions of head: 0.5 by 0.5 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary. Polyhedral head much larger than thickest part of shank. Cf. Crummy Type 4; H.W. Bohme 1974, Taf. 95-4 (Oudenburg Grave 67) and above 42. Date of comparanda: late fourth/early fifth century. Room 77. P3B/M3 (460-500).

44.

Hairpin (SF01608) Preserved length: 3.5 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary with head and most of point missing. Identification as hairpin is uncertain. Silvered ? Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 62. P3B/D (545).

45.

Hairpin (SF03230) Length: 5.2 cm. Max. dimensions of head: 0.5 by 0.5 cm. Copper alloy. Intact. Polyhedral head. See above 42. Date of comparanda: late fourth/ early fifth century. Room 77. P3B/M3 (460-500).

38.

Hairpin (SF04007) Preserved length: 6.5 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, broken at tip. Slightly faceted ovoid head. Cf. Crummy Type 4; copper alloy hairpins 42, 43, 45. Date of comparanda: mid-third to late fourth/ early fifth century. Room 34. P3B/M7B (490-535).

46.

Hairpin (SF03275) Length: 6.8 cm. Diameter of head: 0.5 cm. Copper alloy. Intact. Long slender shaft. Simple spherical head. No other distinguishing features. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500).

39.

Hairpin (SF04013) Preserved length: 5.9 cm. Max. diameter: 0.5 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with head missing. No distinguishing features. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71, 72. P3B/B (460).

47.

40.

Hairpin (SF04731) Preserved length: 2.1 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with head and much of shaft missing. No distinguishing features. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 67. P3B/M6 (490-545).

Hairpin (SF04062) Length: 3.9 cm. Diameter of head: 0.7 cm. Copper alloy. Intact. The head is spherical and much larger than the thickest part of the shank. Cf. Crummy Type 3; Ruprechtsberger 1978, No. 144. Date of comparanda: uncertain, probably late fourth/early fifth century. Room 37. P3B/D (545).

48.

Hairpin (SF04787) Preserved length: 4.6 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary, with head missing. No distinguishing features. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71, 72. P3B/O (460-545).

49.

Hairpin (SF00014) Length: 8.8 cm. Bone. Ovoid head with incised spiral decoration. Neck collar. Head (1.2 cm) is thicker than shank (maximum thickness: 0.6 cm). Cf. Crummy Type 5; Ruprechtsberger 1978, No. 6. Date of comparanda: mid-third /late fourth century. TO.

50.

Hairpin (SF00015) Preserved length: 6.1 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with point missing. Simple, subrectangular head; narrow neck, and long tapering shaft. Cf. Ruprechtsberger 1978, No. 71; Dyson 1983, Fig. 19620 (Vagni, Italy). Date of comparanda: perhaps late second/early third century. TO.

51.

Hairpin (SF00105) Preserved length: 4.6 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with head and point missing. The shaft tapers sharply toward the neck. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

41.

42.

Hairpin (SF11026) Preserved length: 6.6 cm. Max. diameter: 0.4 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with head and point missing. No decoration. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71, 72. P3B/ M5T (490535). Hairpin (SF00108) Preserved length: 5.7 cm. Dimensions of head: 0.9 by 0.9 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary, with point missing. Polyhedral head. Exactly parallel to Crummy Type 4, with head 'very large and top-heavy in relation to the shaft' (Crummy 1979,161). Cf. Ruprechtsberger 1978, No. 16; H.W. Bohme 1974, Taf. 95-4 (Oudenburg Grave 67). (The Oudenburg example was found in a female grave in association with a fragmentary 'tutulusfibel' belonging to H.W. Bohme's Zeitstufe I: Bd. 1, Abb. 51/52 [155: ca. 330400].) Date of comparanda: late fourth/early fifth century. Room 77. P3B/M3 (460-500).

The Small Finds 25 52.

Hairpin (SF00987) Length: 5.7 cm. Bone. Intact. The head is ovoid, pointed, and uncommonly large in relation to the length of the shaft. A very slender, short neck under which is a deeply incised reel ornament. Cf. Dyson 1983, Fig. 196-13 (Vagni, Italy). Date of comparanda: late fourth/early to mid fifth century. TO.

53.

Pin (SF04056) Length: 3.7 cm. Copper alloy. Bent at right angles in the middle as a result of deposition. Unremarkable except for its elongated head. Whether or not the primary function of this object was as a hairpin is uncertain. It may also have been used as a cosmetic or surgical instrument. Cf. Ruprechtsberger 1978,9ff. for a review of the ancient sources. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

ning of the sixth century, see Leclerc 1982, No. 107 (p. 57, PL 6-107.93). Fragment c (length: 3.6 cm; width: 2.7 cm) is a bone plaque with incised ring and dot ornament. Apart from the fact that this fragment was found in association with the others referred to here, there is nothing to indicate its belonging with the others as an element in the composition of a bone comb. Bone plaques with similar decoration were used as applique decoration on strongboxes (cf. Henderson 1949,152, PL LVII-276). The ring and dot ornament, however, is a well-known decorative motif used over many centuries. Fragments dl and d2 were found in association with the other pieces described here. Thin strips of worked bone, they exhibit no distinguishing features and may or may not have been parts of the ensemble. Date of comparanda: uncertain but most probably later fourth/early fifth century. Room 69. P3A/M1B (430460).

Combs (Fig. 13) The few fragments of combs recovered at San Giovanni di Ruoti are made of bone (genus unidentified). The combs appear to be of the normal Roman type, that is, double-edged and of composite manufacture (one or two rows of teeth set between two plaques riveted together to form a handle). Another frequent form of very late Roman comb has only one row of teeth fastened to a triangular handle. Cf. H.W. Bohme 1974, Taf. 12-12 (Bremen-Mahndorf Grave 310); Oldenstein 1986, Abb. 11 (the late Roman fort at Alzey). One long-lasting decoration is an inscribed ring and dot ornament combined with incised lines and chip-carved edges. See also Conimbriga VII 145, No. 243 and PL 35; Galloway 1983,55-7, Figs. 589; and 54 and 56 below. None of the San Giovanni combs seems to be datable to a period earlier than the late fourth century. 54.

Comb fragments (SF01158) Bone. Fragmentary. Fragments al and a2 (length: 7.2 cm and 2.6 cm; width: 1.7 cm) form a flat rectangular plaque with one straight edge and one decorated edge with simple chip-carved ornament. Eight holes pierce the fragment^). In this example, fragments al and a2 may form such a 'handle' plaque. This, however, is not certain. The plaque could equally well have served as a decorative applique for a wooden chest. Fragment b (length: 1.3 cm; width: 4.2 cm; depth of teeth: 1.1 cm) is clearly what is left of a double-sided comb. In the centre, there are the traces of a rivet hole for attachment to 'handle' plaques. For a fragment of a similar double-sided comb found at Carthage in a context dated to the end of the fifth century and the begin-

55.

Bone comb (SF03272) Preserved length: 2.6 cm. Preserved width: 4.3 cm. Fragmentary. Double-edged, unitary construction with the beginnings of eight teeth extant along one edge. There are crudely carved fullmodelled scenes on either side. (See also Fig. 43.) Side a presents the image of a centaur fleeing to the right but with face looking backward. The centaur holds an object in his right hand. Behind the hand and slightly to the right is a rudimentary architectural relief. The scene perhaps represents the fighting that broke out on the occasion of Pirithous' wedding to Hippodamia. The object held by the centaur is surely a club. As an artistic topic, the battle between the Lapiths and the Centaurs was well used in antiquity. In Greek sculpture it is best known from the south metopes of the Parthenon, the western pediment of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, and the internal frieze of the Temple of Apollo at Bassae. Of course, the scene could represent Herakles' fight with Nessos, another common motif (Boardman 1970, 112). For all the above, it is possible that Herakles' adventure is not represented here. There is a frieze on the Mildenhall covered bowl (Painter 1977, Nos. 11-12) that represents centaurs pursued by lions. One centaur flees to the right with head looking backward and holding a club in its right hand. Painter suggests (p. 13) a date late in the third century for the manufacture of this bowl, the date of deposition being assigned to ca. 360 (see Painter 1977,29 and PL 26-28 and Bandinelli 1971, PL 197). The Mildenhall covered bowl does not allude iconographically in a specific way to Herakles/ Hercules. However, as Koch and Sichtermann point out (1982,155), centaurs recall Herakles' exploits even when he was not represented. (For centaurs on midsecond to mid-third century Roman sarcophagi, see also Sichtermann and Koch 1975, 38, Taf. 75-2; 76-78. For a 'typology' of centaurs in ancient art between the tenth and fourth centuries BC, see Schiffler 1976.)

26 The Small Finds Side b shows a figure facing to the right. Vaguely resembling a stag - and somewhat leporine - it seems to clutch at a net with its right 'hoof.' If Side a is taken to represent, or recall, one of Herakles' adventures, it is possible that Side b represents another: the demigod's capture of the Cerynean hind. This is a suggestion made all the more likely by the unmistakeable representation of a net. According to one version of the myth, Herakles tracked this deer sacred to Artemis and eventually snagged the golden-antlered beast in Arcadia by the river Ladon (Diodorus Siculus 4.13.1; cf. the more usual account in Apollodorus 2.5.3; Pindar Ol. 3.28ff.; Euripides HF 375ff.; J. Tzetzes Chiliades 2.265ff.; Hyginus Fab. 30). What may be represented here is the hind's resistance to capture. For representations of this, the third (Apollodorus) or fourth (Diodorus Siculus) in the canonical labours of Herakles, see the very complete entry in LIMC, Vol. 1, 4954 (Felten 1990). While the myth of Herakles' ensnaring the Cerynean hind is ancient, in (almost) all representations Herakles is portrayed as wrestling with the beast (but see below, Furtwangler 1900; ZwierleinDiehl 1969). In addition to the LIMC entry, see Vollkommer 1988, 6f. Although Vollkommer only cites representations of Herakles wrestling with the beast, we may suppose, with Diodorus Siculus, that a net was used or would not have been considered inappropriate to the task of capturing it alive (LIMC, Vol. 1.51: 2206). The situation, then, would be similar to the Calydonian boar hunt. Here, nets are never mentioned except much later by Ovid Met. 8.329-333 (Anderson 1985,54f.). For representations of the theme on ancient gems, see Furtwangler 1900, PI. 19-9,10 - both cornelians from Italy: the first clearly shows a sculpted border perhaps representing Herakles' net; also Zwierlein-Diehl 1969, 63, No. 129, Taf. 31. Brommer notes a lack of clarity surrounding the artistic representation of this labour of Herakles. Certainly, while obviously known to ancient artists, the capture of the Cerynean hind was not a favourite topic. It apparently does not occur as a figure-type on terra sigillata of the first and second centuries (cf. Oswald 1936-37, PL 36-39, Nos. 746-99a [but see PL 35-36, Nos. 732-45 for centaurs]). In Hedan and Vernhet 1974, 287-301, re-identified 'labours of Hercules' on terra sigillata from La Graufesenque exclude three of the canonical labours, among them that of the hind's capture. As is the case with Side a (regardless of Koch and Sichtermann 1982, 155), it may be that what we have here is merely a 'centaur' frieze accompanied by (Side b) the representation of a fairly typical hunting scene (cf. OCD2, 533; Anderson 1985, passim). Such a scene would be entirely appropriate to the residents of a rural settlement who, presumably, engaged in the pastime. The recollection of Herakles' labour, then, may have been as fortuitous as it was happy. Herakles, disregarded largely in the early Principate as a result of his cultivation by Pompey and then Antony (cf. Der-

ichs 1950, 37ff.), revived in the third and fourth centuries to become one of the Roman empire's most popular demigods - and not only because of Commodus' belief that he was Hercules reincarnate (cf. Gage 1981, 661-83). For a general survey of the cult of Hercules in the Roman world, see Jaczynowska 1981, 63160. She (like Simon 1966) links Hercules' revitalization in part to the onset of the new state religion in the fourth century. The miracles of Christ were equated with the labours of the pagan Hercules (Jaczynowska 1981, 660; Ferrua 1960, passim). Before official Christianity swept the world, Maximian took the name 'Herculius' as a family name. Hence, units of 'Herculiani' as senior Palatine regiments in the later Roman army. See, for example, Jones 1964, 53. Date of comparanda: uncertain, probably late fourth/early fifth century. Room 77. P3B/M3 (460-500). 56.

Bone comb (SF04008) Length: ? Width: 4.2 cm. Maximum thickness: 0.3 cm. Fragmentary. Double-edged, unitary construction. Simple incised linear decoration. Date of comparanda: mid-fourth/late fifth century. Room 43. P3B/M7A (490-535).

57.

Bone comb (SF04009) Preserved length: 0.9 cm. Preserved width: 3.5 cm. Fragmentary. Double-edged, unitary construction. Three narrow teeth and one wider tooth extant. Undecorated. For discussion, see 56 and 54 above (Period 3A). Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 36. P3B/D (545).

Brooches (Fig. 13)

There are eight identifiable copper alloy brooches in the material excavated at San Giovanni di Ruoti. Possibly the earliest, 64, was found in the topsoil over the relatively early part of the site. This piece has a flattened, fluted bow that is integral with the chord (three windings). Missing are the pin, the catch, and the foot. It is most likely to be dated to the first century after Christ. Another first-cenhiry/early-second-century brooch is 63. This example is fragmentary, showing the beginnings of a one-piece wire-formed arch and pin, the pin emerging from the two twists of the chord. This brooch belongs to a widely spread class dated by A. Bohme to the Domitianic-Hadrianic period in the northern Limes. A similar example, however, has been found in Tomb 3 in the Roman cemetery at Gropello Cairoli (Pavia). It has been suggested that

The Small Finds 27 that piece was made some time between the later years of the first century before Christ and the early years of the first century after Christ. Nos. 60,61, and 59 are solid-cast bird or 'duck' brooches discovered in Period 3 layers; 60 and 61 are intact. Both are equipped with an axial bar, chord with integral pin, and catch plate. They bear 'chip-carved' decoration: linear hatches inscribed after casting mark the 'back' and 'tail' of 60; ring and dot ornament decorates the 'tail' of 61. The third bird brooch, 59, was not equipped with chord and integral pin. Rather, the pin (missing) was attached to the base of the brooch by means of a hinge. This example is only lightly decorated with transverse chip-carved hatches at the base of the 'tail.' These 'bird' brooches are similar to types dating to the latter half of the second century found north of the Alps. Closer parallels, however, are to be found in the Lombard cemetery at Castel Tronsino (Grave 13) and, for example, in collections at Bologna and Metaponto. They serve as evidence for the southerly migration of a nonRoman decorative tradition. No. 62 is a 'disc' brooch, with hinge and pin. On the upper surface of the brooch there is relief decoration with four adjoining circular quadrants delimiting a lozenge-shaped area. Possibly to be dated to the mid-second century, this example was found in a late, Period 3B context. No. 58 is a 'T-shaped' bow brooch, with chord, that has six windings on either side of the main axis of the arch and a slightly recurved foot. The foot does not appear to be fragmentary even though it lacks the catch plate. The beginning of the arch and the foot are lightly decorated with cast concentric rings. This brooch was found in a disturbed context. The eighth brooch identified at San Giovanni di Ruoti, No. 65, is a very simple wire filament bent to form a bow with one end doubled back upon itself to form the catch plate. Not readily datable, this brooch was found in a Period 3B context. About as much as can be said for this example, if indeed a brooch, is that it was probably of local manufacture. 58.

Brooch (SF04019) Length: 4.8 cm. Width of chord: 4.6 cm. Copper alloy. This is a 'T-shaped' bow brooch.

The intact, sprung chord had six windings on either side of the main axis of the arch. The slightly recurved foot does not appear to be fragmentary even though it lacks the catch plate. The beginnings of the arch and foot bear incised circumlinear ornament. An example of a class of brooch that was very widely distributed in the western empire north of the Alps and even into 'free' Germany. Cf. Almgren 1923, Taf. 7-162,170; Taf. 9-202. Examples of these brooches found in Italian contexts have not been subject to detailed study. The example from San Giovanni di Ruoti is quite crude. For a parallel, see A. Bohme 1972, Taf. 22, No. 900 (Saalburg and Zugmantel). Date of comparanda: late second to early fourth century. Room 41. P2/B (350). 59.

Brooch (SF01781) Length: 3.1 cm. Width: 0.6 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary, pin missing (see also Fig. 44). This 'bird' brooch, unlike 60 and 61 (below) was not equipped with a chord and integral pin. Instead, the pin was attached to the body of the brooch by means of a hinge. Cf. examples at Castel Tronsino Grave 13 (Fuch and Werner 1950, 45, Taf. C), from Metaponto Castrum (unpublished) and those in the Museo Civico di Bologna (Carretta 1981, Fig. 2). It may be suggested that the three bird brooches presented here represent the continuation of a decorative tradition from north of the Alps. Cf. Waugh and Goodburn 1972, 118, Fig. 31-21 and 31-22; A. Bohme 1972, Taf. 27-1046, 1048, 40; A. Bohme 1978, 183f., Taf. 28-396. Date of comparanda: sixth/seventh century. Room 58. P3B/F (460-545).

60.

Brooch (SF04017) Length: 3.3 cm. Width: 0.9 cm. Copper alloy. Intact 'bird' brooch with axial bar, chord and integral pin, and catch plate (see also Fig. 45). Linear hatches mark the back and tail. Cf. 59. Date of comparanda: sixth/seventh century. Room 36. P3B/D (545).

61.

Brooch (SF04018) Length: 3.8 cm. Width: 0.9 cm. Copper alloy. Intact l>ird' brooch with axial bar, chord and integral pin, and catch plate (see also Fig. 46). The tail bears incised ring and dot decoration. Date of comparanda: sixth/seventh century. Room 36. P3B/D (545).

62.

Brooch (SF04120) Diameter: 3.3 cm. Disc brooch with hinge and pin. The outer surface is decorated in relief with four adjoining circular quadrants delimiting a lozenge-shaped area. While there is no sure parallel, the object is clearly a 'Schalenfibel.' It is somewhat similar to Bohme's 'Typ Krefeld-Gellep' (H.W. Bohme 1974, 29ff.), which should be dated to the second half of the fifth century or early in the sixth century. Less likely as parallels are similar examples from Settefinestre, Italy (Fama 1985, 234, Tav. 61-11-13). Date of comparanda: uncertain but possibly fifth or early sixth century. Room 43. P3B/M7A (490-535).

28 The Small Finds 63.

64.

65.

Brooch (SF00053) Length: 2.6 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary. Showing the beginnings of a one-piece, wireformed arch and pin. The pin emerges from the two twists of the chord. The item apparently belongs to a class of material widely spread across Europe and dated to the Domitianic-Hadrianic period in the northern Limes zone: A. Bohme 1972, 14, Taf. 3 and 4. Cf. Conimbriga VII, PL 26-36, 116; Fortunati Zuccala 1979, Figs. 5-a, 16; Fama 1985, 233, Tav. 60-3 (Settefinestre, Italy); van der Roest 1988, 184-87, Nos. 15970, Taf. VI-VII. Date of comparanda: end of first century through first quarter of the second century. TO. Brooch (SF01039) Length: 2.5 cm. Width: 1.2 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary. This piece has a flattened, fluted bow that is integral with the chord (three windings). The pin, catch, and foot are missing. Found in the top soil above Zone 1. Cf. Fortunati Zuccala 1979, 22, fig. 11-b (Gropello Cairoli Tomb 8); Frere 1982,177, fig. 26-2 (Bignor). Date of comparanda: beginning to last quarter of the first century. TO.

68.

Finger ring (?) (SF01769) Diameter: 1.7 cm. Width: 0.6 cm. Copper alloy. This unremarkable finger ring (or, less likely, ferrule) is made of a flat copper alloy plate bent round on itself. A single incised line decorates one edge. It is probable that use as a finger ring marks a secondary function for this scrap of metal. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 64. P3A/M1A (400-430).

69.

Finger ring (SF01008) Diameter: 1.7 cm. Copper alloy. Intact. Penannular, with flattened termini ca. 0.1 cm thick. Undecorated. Similar to Guiraud 1989, Fig. 41-a, 195. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Cistern F 723. P3B/ D (545).

70.

Finger ring or fragment of bracelet (SF01100) Diameter: ? Preserved length: 2.7 cm. Preserved width: 0.3 cm. Min. thickness of metal: 0.5 mm. Gold (see also Fig. 47). The upper (?) surface of the object is in the form of a rectangular box setting, 0.7 cm by 0.2 cm. Flat, rose-coloured glass is in place in the setting. On one 'side' of the object are two circular settings 0.4 cm in diameter. Of the two, one is filled by an unidentified blue stone. There is no record of sulphur having been used as a backing paste or filler, as in the treasures of slightly earlier date at Tenes, Algeria, and Thetford, England (Johns et al. 1983, 21, 29 [n. 28 for Tenes], 60). With its distinctive cloisons the object resembles very late or post-Roman jewellery found in Italy and elsewhere in Europe and North Africa. Cf. Marshall 1907, 139, No. 855, pi. 21; Becatti 1955, 218, No. 546, PI. 152-546, and Fuchs 1944, Abb. 69 (Desana, Italy); Taylor and Scarisbrick 1978,43f., No. 222; Johns et al. 1983, 88, No. 14, Fig. 14; Henkel 1913, No. 265, Taf. 14, Bd. 1-39. It has some similarities, too, to Battke 1955, No. 54, Taf. 10,45f., which is dated to the sixth/ seventh century. For the particular value of such objects to their owners, see Procopius, BG 7.24.24f. (the siege of Rome in 546; Becatti 1955, 123). Date of comparanda: uncertain, probably mid-sixth century. South of Room 43. P3B/M2N (400-545).

71.

Finger ring (SF01672) Diameter: 2.0 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary, with only half the circumference surviving. The join of the ring survives. It was hammered together with the result that a small, trapezoidal bezel was formed at this point. Undecorated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 59. P3B/D (545).

72.

Finger ring (SF04749) Internal diameter: 1.8 cm. Copper alloy. Intact. Made of copper alloy plate 0.4 cm wide by ca. 0.15 cm thick. The termini were hammered together to form an undecorated subrectangular bezel (max. dimensions: 0.8 by 0.6 cm). Undecorated. Date of comparanda: uncertain but probably fourth/fifth century. Room 71, 72. P3B/RR (500-545).

Brooch (SF03229) Preserved length: ca. 5.2 cm. Copper alloy. Filament ca. 0.05 cm thick bent into a subrectangular shape, with one terminus in the shape of a hook. The identification of this object as a brooch is quite tentative. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

Finger rings (Fig. 14) There are only nine objects recovered in the excavations at San Giovanni di Ruoti that have been identified, more or less certainly, as finger rings. A tenth, 372, is thought to have been a fitting for a leather belt. (See below, "Articles associated with equitation.') With the exception of 70, which is gold rather than copper alloy and dates to the mid-sixth century, none is remarkable. Any date for the manufacture of the copper alloy rings must derive from the contexts in which the objects were found. 66.

67.

Finger ring (SF10025) Diameter: 1.5 cm. Maximum thickness: 0.6 cm. Copper alloy. Very plain, with small flat, undecorated surfaces at join. Light transverse striations. Date of comparanda: mid-fourth century, possibly earlier. Room 25. P2/D (400). Copper alloy hook or finger ring (SF01090) Restored diameter: 0.8 cm. Fragmentary in three pieces. While in the shape of a hook, the piece could well be a broken and distorted finger ring. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 24. P2/D (400).

The Small Finds 29 73.

74.

Finger ring (?) (SF01097) Internal diameter: ca. 1.7 cm. Copper alloy. Half the loop of a ring. Circular in crosssection 0.2 cm thick. Undecorated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO. Finger ring (SF01793) Internal diameter: 1.2 cm. Copper alloy. Intact. Crude ring of copper alloy. Circular in cross-section, with termini hammered together. Undecorated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

period at Sardis. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/D (545). 79.

Earring (SF03590) Internal diameter: 0.7 cm. Copper alloy. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/ M4 (460-500).

80.

Earring (SF04043) Internal diameter: 2.3 cm. Copper alloy. Distorted penannular ring. Possibly earring or finger ring. In support of its likely function as an earring, it should be noted that the termini are pointed. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 35. P3B/D (545).

81.

Earring (SF10150) Internal diameter: 2.3 cm. Copper alloy. Penannular ring with one terminus broken off. Date of comparanda: uncertain. South of Room 43. P3B/M2N (400-545).

82.

Earring (SF00011) Max. internal dimensions: 1.3 by 1.3 cm. Copper alloy. Distorted penannular ring of copper alloy wire (max. thickness: ca. 0.2 cm). Slight horizontal striations are apparent on the termini. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

83.

Earring (SF03235) Max. internal dimensions: ca. 2.0 by 2.0 cm. Copper alloy. Intact. Pennanular. One terminus is decorated with a series of circular incised lines. The other terminus tapers to a point and is turned outward. Otherwise undecorated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

84.

Earring (SF04784) Max. length: 1.5 cm. Max. thickness: 0.15 cm. Copper alloy. Distorted and slightly flattened ring of copper alloy. Ovoid in cross-section with both termini surviving. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

Earrings (Fig. 14) Although it has been claimed that such objects of adornment are not common on Roman sites (Crummy 1983, 50, 'or rarely identified, or rarely published'), ten have been identified at San Giovanni di Ruoti. The chief criterion for identification here is that even the simplest earrings, by their very nature, must be penannular. Also, the termini must be pointed or without a rough break. All these objects at San Giovanni di Ruoti were made of copper alloy and their date of manufacture is uncertain. It may be noted that most of the 'bronze' earrings in use at Sagvar, Hungary, between 346 and 375 were found in female graves (Burger 1966,146 and Table N/2). 75.

76.

77.

78.

Earring (SF10467) Internal diameter: ca. 1.7 cm. Copper alloy. Penannular. Unremarkable earring of bent copper alloy wire. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 50. P3A/RB (430-460). Earring (SF01848) Max. internal dimensions: 2.0 by 1.5 cm. Copper alloy. Distorted penannular ring of copper alloy wire ca. 0.15 cm thick. Most likely an earring but possibly a strap-loop (cf. 'Articles Associated with Equitation/ below, 372). Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/F (460-545). Earring (SF03281) Max. internal dimensions: 1.8 by 1.5 cm. Copper alloy. Penannular ring made of copper alloy wire ca. 0.1 cm thick. Termini are 0.2 cm apart. No decoration. Date of comparanda: uncertain but probably fourth/fifth century. Room 67. P3B/M6 (490-545). Earring (SF03233) Internal diameter: 1.9 cm. Copper alloy. Intact penannular ring, with abutting and slightly flattened termini. A small pendant loop projects from the exterior circumference. Cf. Waldbaum 1983,123, Nos. 727-29, PI. 45. These three examples are dated to the late Roman/early Byzantine

Bracelets/armlets (Fig. 15) The identification of the following articles of dress with large diameters as 'bracelets/armlets' is tentative. 85.

Bracelet/armlet (SF01152) Proposed diameter: ca. 6.0 cm. Thin copper alloy band (0.2 by 0.15 cm). Half of the bracelet, leading to a simple ovoid terminus, survives. The terminus would have fitted through a simple eye to form the clasp. Cf. Guiraud 1989, Fig. 41b, 195 (Type 7). Date of comparanda: uncertain but possibly fourth century. Room 5. P3A/M1A (400^130).

86.

Bracelet/armlet (SF01009) Preserved length: 4.3 cm. Max. width: 0.3 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary and

30 The Small Finds flattened. Horizontal striations decorate the exterior surface. Cf. Guiraud 1989, Fig. 50-6, 200. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Cistern F723. P3B/D (545). 87.

Bracelet/armlet (SF01149) Restored diameter: ca. 5.5 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary. No decoration. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 64. P3B/O (460-545).

88.

Bracelet/armlet (SF01768) Restored diameter: ca. 5.0 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary, with only about a third of the bracelet intact and one terminus intact. Fine chip-carved, chamfered decoration in the form of lozenges, and punched-dot linear ornament. For a similarly decorated bracelet, though with slightly different but contemporary motifs, see Conimbriga VII, No. 210e, 140f., PL 34-210; Crummy 1983, Fig. 47; Guiraud 1989, Fig. 50-a, 200. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 33. P3B/D (545).

89.

Bracelet/armlet (SF03237) Restored diameter: ca. 2.2 cm. Thin copper alloy plate broken at either end but with abutting termini. Incised linear ornament on exterior surface. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500).

90.

Bracelet/armlet (SF03242) Preserved diameter: ca. 5.0 cm. Copper alloy. No decorative features. Apparently penannular with one terminus flattened. Perhaps intact if a little distorted. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 67. P3B/M6 (490-545).

91.

Bracelet/armlet (?) (SF04728) Preserved length: 7.5 cm. Copper alloy. Thin (0.2 cm), fairly narrow (0.15 cm), fragmentary. The hoop is approximately onethird complete. Bands of horizontal striations mark the exterior surface. The identification is not secure. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 43. P3B/M7 (490-535).

92.

93.

Bracelet/armlet (SF04760) Preserved diameter: ca. 6.3 cm. Copper alloy. Intact. Simple pointed termini. No decoration. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 43. P3B/M7 (90-535). Bracelet/armlet (SF03524) Max. thickness: ca. 0.1 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary, broken at either end. The object is decorated and appears to be from near one terminus. The linear ornament in the form of a raised lozenge adjacent to incised lines parallel to the main axis is common in the late fourth and fifth centuries. Cf. Henderson 1949, Fig. 177; H.W. Bohme 1974, Taf. 36-12 (Sahlenburg 'Korpergrab' 18, among many examples of brooches belonging to 'Zeitstufe I and II' [p. 34]). Date of comparanda: late fourth/fifth century. TO.

Beads

(Fig. 15) 94.

Glass bead (SF01538) Length: 1.7 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm. Diameter of canal: 0.2 cm. Intact. Cylindrical bead of opacified black glass paste. Embedded in the centre of the bead is a filament of bronze-coloured wire. The bead was rolled and not blown. Although the bead tapers slightly toward either end, there is no evidence of pinching in the canal owing to segmentation. For fourth-century tubular beads in Britain, see Boon 1977, PL 16-5. (Verulamium and Winchester). Similar objects in third- to fifth-century contexts were found at Samaria-Sebaste (Crowfoot 1957, 391, fig. 92-34, 91). Date of comparanda: uncertain, probably fourth, possibly fifth century. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500).

95.

Glass bead (SF01540) Length: ? Diameter of canal: 0.3 cm. Fragmentary. Transparent with yellow tinge. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 30. P3B/F (460-545).

96.

Glass bead (SF00038) Length: 0.9 cm. Diameter: 1.7 cm. Diameter of canal: ca. 0.5 cm (external); ca. 0.3 cm (internal). 'Melon-shaped' bead of opacified blue paste. Perhaps fashioned as an individual piece and not by segmentation. Moulded or incised 'V'-shaped grooves run parallel to the axis of the article. For very similar examples in Britain and Germany, see Charlesworth 1984, Fig. 69-150,172 (Verulamium, found in an occupation layer dated to 180-230); Crummy 1983, Fig. 32-520/521, 30 (Colchester); A. Bohme 1978, Taf. 113-F28/F55 (Oberstimm). Date of comparanda: first to third centuries. TO.

97.

Glass bead (SF04386) Length: 0.17 cm. Max. thickness: 0.12 cm. Fragmentary. 'Green, pitted patina,' according to the site records. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

Buckles and other articles of dress (Figs. 15,16)

Buckles and associated articles (appliques and strap fittings) are commonly found at Roman sites in Europe and the Mediterranean world, whether civil or military. The material catalogued and discussed here is classified under 'articles of dress.' There can be little certainty, however, that the fittings recovered at San Giovanni di Ruoti were used in clothing rather than as accessories for leather straps having a wide variety of utilitarian purposes. Late Roman belt fittings have been much discussed in recent

The Small Finds 31 years, for which see in particular the references cited by Clarke et al. 1979, 264. The buckle tongue, No. 109, may represent one of the latest datable minor objects found at San Giovanni di Ruoti. It was probably made some time in the mid-sixth century after Christ. 98.

Attachment plate (SF01609) Preserved length: 7.0 cm. Width: 3.4 cm. Copper alloy. This is a double-leaf plate (folded to one-half the maximum length) into which a leather belt was inserted and attached by means of four rivets. The loop axle (missing) would have been accommodated at the point of the fold (now broken). There is raised, linear decoration along the 'spine' of the attachment plate. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 29. P2/I (400 and later).

99.

Applique/belt strengthener (SF04030) Preserved length: 4.8 cm. Width: 0.9 cm. Thickness: 0.1 cm. Copper alloy. Very thin applique with one rounded end intact. Rivet holes at either end. Probably for attachment to a leather belt. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 19. P2/D (400).

100.

Buckle (SF04046) Preserved length: 3.3 cm. Width: 3.7 cm. Iron. Simple penannular loop with pointed, unremarkable tongue. Attachment plate is missing. No distinguishing features. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 13. P2/I (400 and later).

101.

Attachment plate (SF01010) Max. length: 2.3 cm. Max. width: 2.6 cm. Flattened, very thin double-leaf copper alloy plate punctured by holes possibly for rivets. The remains of the second leaf are very fragmentary. Possibly for attachment to the end of a leather belt. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Cistern F723. P3A/M1B (430^60).

102.

Applique (SF01111) Preserved length: 2.7 cm. Max. width: 0.8 cm. Thin copper alloy plate with hole pierced through one end. Perhaps decoration or strengthener for a leather belt. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 5. P3A/M1B (430-460).

103.

Applique/belt strengthener (SF01130) Max. length: 2.0 cm. Max. width: 2.0 cm. Irregularly shaped copper alloy plate. Slightly convex and pierced by two rivets aligned with each other centrally on opposing edges. The rivets are intact and are flattened, indicating their attachment to a leather belt ca. 4 mm thick. One edge, most likely the upper edge, is scalloped on either side of the main axis. The lower edge is rounded. A very similar, 'shield-shaped/ article was found by P. Simon at Bergisch Gladbach (Rheinisch-Bergische Kreis): Rech and Saggau 1986, 594f., Fig. 23-3. Date of com-

paranda: uncertain, probably fourth century. Room 64. P3A/M1B (430-460). 104.

Buckle tongue (SF01579) Preserved length: 2.6 cm. Copper alloy. Small, with one end bent over on itself to accommodate the buckle axle (missing). The chamfered chip-carved decoration is characteristic of late fourth and possibly early fifth-century buckles found all along the riverine frontiers of the later western empire, and elsewhere. The ornament perhaps represented very stylized animal heads (Riegl 1927, 300). Cf., among many examples, H.W. Bohme 1974, Taf. 104-13, 14 (Tongeren); Simpson 1971, lOOff. These buckles have often been considered evidence for the presence of 'barbarian' soldiers in the service of the later Roman empire in the West. This need not be the case (Salway 1981, 387f.). Nor need this buckle tongue represent a 'military' presence at San Giovanni di Ruoti. Date of comparanda: late fourth/early fifth century. Room 64. P3A/M1A (400-430).

105.

Applique (SF01133) Preserved length: 2.5 cm. Preserved width: 2.5 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary. While the fragmentary and corroded nature of this object allows no certainty, it appears to be part of an arcaded attachment plate of a buckle reminiscent of Hawkes and Dunning Ha, with incised ring and dot ornament (Hawkes and Dunning 1962-3,181ff., Abb. 18 and 19). Similar decoration appears on the attachment plate of a buckle found at Vermand, France (Eck 1891, PI. 16-11; Bullinger 1969, No. 175, Abb. 55-1) and, among other examples, at Cologne (Martin 1968, 19; Bullinger 1969, No. 166, Taf. 3-3a). This is a class of belt equipment that is spread fairly widely across the western empire in the late fourth and early fifth centuries. Date of comparanda: late fourth/early fifth century. Room 58. P3B/B (460).

106.

Applique (SF01704) Diameter: 2.3 cm. Copper alloy. Probably for a leather strap or belt. Shaped in the form of a boss, with attachment rivet in place in the centre. 'Punched' ornament. The length of the rivet indicates a belt thickness of ca. 0.15 cm. Cf. H.W. Bohme 1974, Taf. 88-6 (Furfooz Grave 3); similar ornament occurs on belt appliques found across Europe north of the Alps. (For examples in Switzerland, see for example Basel-Aeschenvorstadt Grave 379 [Laur-Belart 1959, Abb. 37].) Date of comparanda: late fourth to mid-fifth century. Room 58. P3B/D (545).

107.

Applique (SF04738) Preserved diameter: ca. 1.5 cm. Copper alloy. A boss presumably for decoration of a leather belt. See 106 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71, 72. P3B/B (460).

108.

Buckle (SF01783) Length: 4.4 cm. Width: 1.3 cm. Copper alloy. Unitary construction with integral loop,

32 The Small Finds axis, and one-sided attachment plate. Attached to leather strap by means of two rivets. Bears crudely incised linear ornament and has a markedly incurved tongue characteristic of the years following decline of Roman authority in the West. Cf. Vaday 1986, 201, Abb. 2-8; 205. Date of comparanda: uncertain; possibly early fifth to sixth century. Room 59. P3B/D (545). 109.

110.

Buckle tongue (SF01792) Length: 2.6 cm. Width: 0.9 cm. Copper alloy. The major part of the tongue is thick and has a triangular, chamfered body with an incurved tip that would have projected well over the outer edge of the loop (missing). That part of the tongue that was fixed to the loop is, by contrast to the body, quite slender. In all, the buckle tongue is characteristic of buckles of the 'post-Roman' period (cf. Waldbaum 1983, Nos. 702-3) and is probably 'Germanic' in origin. U. Koch 1977 (Schretzheim Grave 35) places this sort of buckle tongue securely within the last half of the sixth century, in Stufe 3, 565-590/600: Teil 1, 21f., Abb. 8a-b, 38; Teil 2, Taf. 12-13 and Taf. 196-9. See also Werner 1953, 88 and Taf. 3-12 (Bulach Grave 29 [Switzerland]). Werner suggests (24) the sixth century. For examples of similar material in Spain, see (less reliably) Aberg 1922, 218, Abb. 326-34; Aberg 1923, 103ff. for slightly later examples in Italy. Date of comparanda: second half, sixth century. Room 61. P3B/D (545). Attachment plate (SF03234) Length: 2.0 cm. Width: 1.6 cm. Copper alloy attachment plate for strap buckle. Single leaf and attached to strap by one rivet pierced through the centre. The plate was fixed to the separate loop (missing) by two projections or tabs folded to form a hinge. Cf. Simpson 1976, 195ff. Date of comparanda: late fourth to mid-fifth century. Room 54. P3B/D (545).

111.

Attachment plate (SF03599) Length: 2.8 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 0.3 cm. Copper alloy. Single leaf and attached to a leather strap by one rivet pierced through the centre. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/D (545).

112.

Strap hanger (SF10473) Length: 11.2 cm. Max. width: 2.1 cm. Copper alloy. This object represents a class of material that is found fairly frequently associated with other belt ornaments, especially in the Late Antique West. For a late example, see, inter al., H.W. Bohme 1974, Taf. 77-5 (Krefeld-Gellep Grave 43). This strap hanger is widened at the lower terminus and pierced by a hole for an attachment ring. It was attached to a leather belt by means of a supplementary, riveted copper alloy plate. The decoration is in the form of incised 'ogee' lines with chip-carved notches on either side of the object toward its lower terminus. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 46. P3B/D (545).

113.

Buckle (SF11024) Length: 1.8 cm. Width: 1.2 cm. Copper alloy. 'D'-shaped loop (cf. Simpson 1976,196, Fig. 2). The loop and tongue are intact. Chamfered, tapering tongue protruding only slightly beyond the confines of the loop. Probably for a leather strap. The attachment plate (if there was one) is missing. Date of comparanda: mid to late fourth century. Room 78. P3B/ M5T (490-535).

114.

Buckle loop (SF01088) Max. dimensions: ca. 3.5 by 2.2 ca. Copper alloy. Fragmentary. What remains is the upper quarter of a zoomorphic buckle loop with opposed, everted lion heads. One head remains; below is a slightly triangular projection on which the buckle tongue would have rested. Several similar examples have been found along the riverine frontiers of the western empire, as often as not with opposed horse heads. See Simpson 1971, PI. 6, 96 (Group Id); Forssander 1937, llff.; R. Koch 1965,105ff. Cf. also, for example, the bone comb with opposed horse heads from Cortrat Grave 30 (H.W. Bohme 1974, Text 123f., Taf. 120-5) associated with a late fourth century 'Zwiebelkopffibel.' The opposed, everted lion head ornament is unusual. Lion head and dolphin head ornament, however, is not. The identification of this object is secure. By far the most of the opposed horsehead buckles have been found in Britain - owing, no doubt, to the intensity of archaeological investigation there. Cf. Simpson 1971, Vol. 2, Nos. 87-101. Date of comparanda: last quarter of the fourth/mid-fifth century. TO.

115.

Buckle (SF10250) Length: 2.5 cm. Width: 2.8 cm. Length of tongue: 2.6 cm. Copper alloy. Intact and well preserved. This buckle is composed of three elements: a 'D'-shaped loop; an axial bar that penetrates both termini of the loop; and a lozenge-shaped tongue. The single- or double-leaf attachment plate is missing. Such buckles generally belong to the earlier Imperial period and, when found on sites that are known to have supported a military presence at one time or another, are described as 'cuirass' buckles or 'Panzerschnallen.' Cf. Cunliffe 1971,110, Fig. 44-89; A. Bohme 1978, Taf. 20-B106). Also Cotton and Metraux 1985,149, Fig. 21-8 (San Rocco, Francolise, Italy). Date of comparanda: uncertain, probably first to second century. TO.

116.

Pendant (SF00104) Length: 4.1 cm. Max. width: 1.1 cm. Copper alloy, lozenge-shaped metal plate (less than 0.1 cm thick) with two termini. One terminus is folded over to form a suspension loop; the other is pointed, with subrectangular projections emerging from either side between the terminus and the lozenge-shaped plate. A very similar object was found at Sardis. Cf. Waldbaum 1983, No. 894, PI. 51. Date of comparanda: uncertain, possibly fourth century. TO.

The Small Finds 33 117.

Applique (SF03577) Max. dimensions: 1.7 by 1.3 cm. Copper alloy. Rectangular, thin (0.2 cm) plate with punched dot ornament. Two apparent rivet holes. Possibly the remains of a single- or double-leaf plate for attaching a small buckle to the end of a leather strap. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

Ligulae (Fig. 17)

The function of the following objects is uncertain. Perhaps they were used for scooping ointment from unguent jars (cf. Kenyon 1948, 258-8; Milne 1970, 77f.), or as surgical instruments ("ear picks/ Kenyon 1948, 258-7; 'tongue depressors/ Henderson 1949, PL 39-42 [Richborough]). Cf. also the surgical or cosmetic instruments found in France (Liversidge 1968, 343) and Italy (Jackson 1986, No. 28, Fig. 4). As surgical instruments (cf. Scarborough 1969, 86f.), these articles follow the Hippocratic standard insofar as most are made of copper alloy (Hippocrates 1.48). But see Milne 1970, 17 for others made of bone and ivory. These artifacts are common throughout the Empire from the first century on. Cf. also Waldbaum 1983, 105f. and the authorities cited there. Apart from No. 118, the ligulae at San Giovanni di Ruoti were made of copper alloy. 118.

Ligula (SF01157) Preserved length: 8.0 cm. Max. thickness: 0.3 cm. Iron. Tapering toward one end. The other terminus is flattened at an oblique angle to the shaft. The identification is tentative. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 5. P3A/M1B (430-460).

119.

Ligula (SF11019) Length: 17.5 cm. Intact. Copper alloy. A long shaft, thickening in the middle but tapering at a slight angle to a point at one end. The other end is flattened to form a small (0.6 cm) circular spatula. See 118 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 49. P3A/B (400).

120.

Ligula (SF04020) Length: 13.0 cm. Copper alloy. Intact. A long shaft, thickening in the middle and tapering to a point at one end. The other end is a disc set at an angle to the shaft. Cf. Waldbaum 1983, 105f. See 118 above (Period 3A). Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71,72. P3B/O (460-545).

above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 36. P3B/ D (545). 122.

Ligula (SF04737) Preserved length: 10.0 cm. Copper alloy. In two pieces. The scoop terminus is ca. 0.3 cm in diameter. Date of comparanda: uncertain. South of Room 43. P3B/M2W (400-545).

123.

Ligula (SF10227) Preserved length: 11.5 cm. Copper alloy. Cf. 120 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Not illustrated. Room 42. P3B/M9 (400-545).

124.

Ligula (SF10346) Length: 15.2 cm. Copper alloy. Intact. Tapering to one end, with small (0.2 cm) scoop at the other. See 123 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 42. P3B/M9 (400-545).

125.

Ligula (SF03276) Length: 11.5 cm. Copper alloy. Tapering toward one end and bent as a result of its deposition. The other end is disc-shaped (diameter: 0.4 cm.), set at an angle to the shaft. The outer side of the disc exhibits a simple incised cross as ornament. For comparanda and discussion, see 118 above (Period 3A). Date of comparanda: uncertain but of long duration. TO.

Tweezers (Fig. 17)

126.

Mirror (Figs. 17,48) 127.

121.

Ligula (SF04047) Preserved length: 5.2 cm. Copper alloy. Broken at either end. Sharply angled. No distinguishing features. Identification uncertain. See 120

Tweezers (SF01014) Length: 7.0 cm. Max. width of blades: 0.7 cm. Max. thickness of blades: 0.2 cm. Copper alloy. Intact. These tweezers represent a common form, though not much studied. It is made from one presumably hammered - metal leaf, bent over on itself and with an almost circular top spring. The blades of this pair of tweezers are curved in to form the pincer. Such tweezers were used not only for the removal of unwanted hair but also for various medical or surgical purposes (Milne 1970, 91-3). One blade of this object bears traces of two incised lines, likely for the placement of a ring (missing) that would have kept the blades closed - when not in use or when prolonged closure was appropriate. Cf. Cunliffe 1971, 110, Nos. 61-6, Fig. 42; Crummy 1983, 58f; and (unpublished at the time of writing) the tweezers from Anemurium (Turkey), AN 71-80. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Cistern F723. P3B/D (545).

Mirror (SF10249) Length: 7.4 cm. Width: 5.4 cm. Internal diameter of frame: 2.3 cm. Lead. The glass is missing. The frame is circular. On the top is a ring for hanging that is strengthened by vertical and triangular

34 The Small Finds supports. The bottom is in the form of an incised vertical rectangle with moulded ring and dot ornament immediately beneath the interior base of the frame. Around the external perimeter of the frame is a series of lattice-work triangles surmounted by bosses. There are five such triangles on each side. Spaced between the first and second triangle from the rectangular terminus are projecting spikes; the motif is repeated between the first and second perforated triangles to either side of the pendant ring. The inner and outer edges of the frame have beaded ornament. Very similar mirrors, with convex glass and possibly tin foliation, are in the Benaki Museum (Athens). They are considered to be 'Nubian' and are dated to the fifth/ sixth century (Clairmont and Lamm 1977, Nos. lOlac). A similar mirror is presented as being from Antinoe (Egypt) by Michon 1909, 235-7, No. 8, Fig. 1. Cf. also the example from La Bienvida, Spain (Aurrecoecha 1990, 257, Fig. 1). Simpler, circular mirrors have been found at Sardis and Anemurium (Waldbaum 1983,109, No. 655; AN 71-225 [unpublished]), at Sucidava, Romania (Tudor 1959, 418, No. 8, Fig. 1), and at Brigetio, Hungary (Barkozci 1965, 233, Fig. 19-2, PL 25-2). Three fragmentary examples are also on display in the Corning Museum of Glass (Corning, NY). According to Rahmani 1964,59-60, such mirrors may have had an apotropaic function. A small fragment of the mirror frame was subjected to Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (IN A A). This was conducted by John Duke of the SLOWPOKE nuclear laboratory at the University of Alberta (Canada). My thanks to J.R. Russell for providing an identification and some comparanda. Date of comparanda: fifth/sixth century. Room 42. P3B/M9 (400-545).

II. ARTICLES ASSOCIATED WITH TEXTILES (SEWING, WEAVING, ETC.)

Like hairpins, needles seem to have been used for a variety of purposes besides sewing. Ruprechtsberger 1978, 38 cites their use in surgery and they were also used in magical rituals. In fact, PGM 7.429ff. calls specifically for a headless bronze needle to be used in inscribing a spell on a lead plate from a cold water pipe (Betz 1986, 129). There is the possibility, then, that the damage to 138 and 140 was not accidental. 128.

Needle/Brooch pin (SF01765) Preserved length: 3.8 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary head bent at right angles to the shaft. Simple, pierced hole for thread. Likely a brooch pin possibly subjected to secondary use. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 75. Pl/0 (1220).

129.

Sewing needle (SF01787) Preserved length: 7.6 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with flat, rectangular head and simple elongated hole with no guide for thread (0.45 by 0.2 cm) Cf. Crummy 1979, No. 1977, 66, Fig. 70; Fama 1985, 70, Tav. 18-7 (Settefinestre, Italy). Date of comparanda: uncertain. Mill Area A102. PI/I (1-220).

130.

Sewing needle (SF00024) Preserved length: 3.5 cm. Bone. Too fragmentary for determining secure parallels. Broken at both ends, only traces of the eye remain. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 19. P2/O (350-400).

131.

Sewing needle (SF01542) Preserved length: 1.9 cm. Bone. Both ends broken off. No distinguishing features. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. F125. P2/D (400).

132.

Sewing needle (SF01089) Preserved length: 2.1 cm. Diameter: 1.5 cm. Bone. Fragmentary. All that remains is part of the thread guide and shaft. No distinguishing features. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 69. P3A/M1B (430-460).

133.

Sewing needle (SF01784) Preserved length: 10.3 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary, with point broken off. Elongated eye (1.4 cm) with thread guides above and below. See 134, 137, 138, 140 below. Date of comparanda: uncertain; the form had a long life. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500).

134.

Sewing needle (SF01801) Length: 14.0 cm. Copper alloy. Bent (accidentally?) into the shape of a hook. The head is flattened with an elongated eye for thread. On either side, above and below the hole, are incised thread guides. Cf. Ruprechtsberger 1978, No. 454 (Lauriacum). The type, according to Ruprechtsberger

Sewing needles

(Fig. 18)

There are fifteen identifiable sewing needles among the minor objects at San Giovanni di Ruoti. Two were found in Period 1 contexts (128, 129) and two in Period 2 contexts (130, 131). A sole example (132) was found in a Period 3A layer; the rest belong to Period 3B contexts. The needles are made from bone or copper alloy. The copper alloy needles of Period 3B, with the exception of 141, have thread guides above and below the eye. The heads above the eye tend to taper uniformly.

The Small Finds 35 eye. Conical head above eye. 'Figure of eight' eye formed by two adjacent pierced holes. Cf. Crummy 1979, No. 1986, 66, Fig. 70; Carta 1987,153, Fig. 149,31 (left) (Ostia). Date of comparanda: uncertain. South of Room 53. P3B/B (460).

(37ff.), is long-lasting. Date of comparanda: uncertain but no earlier than mid-first century. Room 62. P3B/D (535/45). 135.

Sewing needle (SF03539) Preserved length: 7.9 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with top of eye and point missing. The base of the eye is flattened (dimensions: 0.5 by 0.3 cm). Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. West of later praetorium, Area 101. P3B/B (460).

136.

Sewing needle (SF03257) Preserved length: 3.2 cm. Bone. Fragmentary, with head and eye intact. Directly beneath the large rectangular eye is a small hole pierced through the shaft. Cf. Conimbriga VII, No. 311, 80f., PL 13-311; Mercando et al. 1982, 222, Fig. 93f. (Tomb 88-4); Fama 1985, 70, Tav. 18-6 (Settefinestre, Italy). Date of comparanda: uncertain. West of later praetorium, Area 101. P3B/B (460).

137.

Sewing needle (SF04037) Length: 9.6 cm. Copper alloy. Intact, long, flattened head with thread guide above and below eye. Flat, rectangular cross-section. Cf. Ruprechtsberger 1978, No. 454; 133 and 134 above; 138 and 140 below. Date of comparanda: uncertain; see 134 above. Room 43. P3B/D (545).

138.

Sewing needle (SF04038) Length: 13.5 cm. Copper alloy. Intact but broken through the eye. For the thread guide, see 133, 134, 137 above. The needle is longer than 137. Date of comparanda: uncertain; see 134 above. Room 35. P3B/D (545).

139.

Sewing needle (SF04049) Length: 5.1 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary, with tip missing. Small eye, incised thread guide above. Cf. Ruprechtsberger 1978, No. 454. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 35. P3B/D (545).

140.

Sewing needle (SF04795) Length: 6.8 cm. Copper alloy. Intact but, given the extreme brevity of the shaft below the eye, perhaps broken in antiquity and filed once again to a point. Above and below the eye are incised thread guides similar to the examples listed above. SF04795 also includes a small iron tack. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 78. P3B/M5T (490-535).

141.

Sewing needle (SF10149) Length: 16.5 cm. Copper alloy. Intact. The eye (2.0 cm long) begins 2.1 cm from the end of the head. The head itself is circular and is incised with two reels. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 42. P3B/M9 (400-545).

142.

Sewing needle (SF10169) Preserved length: 6.2 cm. Max. diameter: 0.5 cm. Bone. Point broken off. Circular, tapering cross-section with maximum thickness at

Loom weights (Figs. 19,20)

Twenty loom weights have been identified among the minor objects at San Giovanni di Ruoti: five in Period 1 contexts (143, 144, 145, 146,147); two from Period 2 (148,149 [reused as building material]); one from Period 3A (150); eight in Period 3B contexts (151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158); and four in disturbed layers (159, 160, 161, 162). All the loom weights are made of terracotta and most are pyramidal. Loom weights were normally used in vertical looms, each weight accommodating several warp threads (cf. Wild 1970, Fig. 53). As Davidson suggests (1952, 147), 'the evenness of the web depended in large measure on the equality of weight among the loom weights which held down the warp thread[s].' The San Giovanni di Ruoti examples range in mass from 100 g. to 400 g. No clustering of find spots (indicating perhaps the function of individual areas) was evident. The warp-weighted vertical loom continued to be used throughout the Roman period and, in areas under the control of the Roman east, until the eleventh century (Wild 1970, 67f. and the authorities cited there). Loom weights seem to have been used also in the functioning of the raised horizontal loom (Wild 1970, 75). Weaving was a task for every household in the Roman world (cf. Suet. Aug. 64.2). Thus, loom weights give no indication of the economic base of the site. The small number of such objects found, however, suggests that the main centre for weaving has yet to be located. Because of varied lighting conditions, Munsell Soil Color Charts have not been used to describe the clay colour of these loom weights. 143.

Loom weight (SF00048) Preserved height: 7.5 cm. Dimensions of section: 3.0 by 2.0 cm (top). Weight: ? Terracotta. Fragmentary with base missing. Pyramidal. Porous clay, light beige/rosy fabric. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 9. Pl/D (220).

36 The Small Finds 144.

Loom weight (SF00050) Height: 8.0 cm. Dimensions of section: 3.4 by 3.0 cm (top); 5.7 by 3.0 cm (bottom). Weight: 223 g. Terracotta. Complete. Essentially rectangular profile. Porous, beige/rosy fabric. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 9. Pl/D (220).

145.

Loom weight (SF00051) Height: 8.7 cm. Dimensions of section: 3.2 by 2.9 cm (top); 5.4 by 5.2 cm (bottom). Weight: 300 g. Terracotta. Markedly trapezoidal profile. Clay is quite porous and beige/rosy-coloured. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. Pl/D (220).

146.

Loom weight (SF03205) Preserved height: 6.0 cm. Dimensions of section: 3.1 by 3.8 cm (top); 3.6 by 3.8 cm (bottom). Weight: 160 g. Terracotta. The base is not quite flat and the attachment hole is missing. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 18. Pl/B (1).

147.

Loom weight (SF03206) Preserved height: 7.0 cm. Dimensions of section: 2.5 by 1.8 cm (top); 4.0 by 3.5 cm (bottom). Weight: 125 g. Terracotta. Pyramidal. The base is fragmentary. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 18. Pl/B (1).

148.

Loom weight (SF00996) Preserved height: 10.0 cm. Dimensions of section: 3.0 by 2.5 cm (top); 5.0 by 5.2 cm (bottom). Weight: 308 g. Terracotta. Pyramidal. Rosy-coloured fabric. Mortar adhering to the object's surface suggests that it was reused as building material. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 5. P2/I (400 and later).

149.

150.

151.

152.

Loom weight (SF01798) Preserved height: 10.3 cm. Dimensions of section: 4.0 by 4.5 (top); ca. 5.0 by 5.0 cm (bottom). Weight: 400 g. Terracotta. This pyramidal weight has an impressed 'St George's cross' on its upper face, aligned with the hole for attachment to the warp of a hand loom. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 64. P2/O (350-400). Loom weight (SF04769) Preserved height: 9.5 cm. Dimensions of section: 2.5 by 2.5 cm (top); 5.5 by 5.5 cm (bottom). Weight: 260 g. Terracotta. Damaged on one side. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 34. P3A/F (400-160). Loom weight (SF01143) Preserved height: 7.2 cm. Dimensions of section: 2.5 by 2.5 cm (top); 3.8 by 3.5 cm (bottom). Weight: 130 g (damaged). Terracotta. Pyramidal. Orange fabric. Simple hole pierced through object about 1.0 cm from top. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 65. P3B/D (545). Loom weight (SF01751) Preserved height: 8.0 cm. Dimensions of section: ca. 2.4 by 2.4 cm (top); ca. 3.5

by 3.5 (bottom). Weight: 161 g. Terracotta. Simple hole pierced through object about 1.0 cm from top. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 59. P3B/F (460-545). 153.

Loom weight (SF03204) Preserved height: 9.2 cm. Dimensions of section: 2.7 by 3.2 cm (top); 5.0 by 5.0 cm (bottom). Weight: 295 g. Terracotta. Pyramidal. Hole pierced through object about 1.0 cm from top. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. West of later praetorium, Area 101. P3B/B (460).

154.

Loom weight (SF03207) Preserved height: 9.0 cm. Dimensions of section: 3.0 by 3.0 cm (top); 5.2 by 6.0 cm (bottom). Weight: 315 g. Terracotta. Pyramidal. Cf. 153 above. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. West of later praetorium, Area 101. P3B/B (460).

155.

Loom weight (SF03208) Preserved height: 8.5 cm. Dimensions of section: 3.5 by 3.0 cm (top); 6.0 by 5.3 cm (bottom). Weight: 320 g (damaged). Terracotta. Roughly pyramidal. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. South of Room 43. P3B/M2S (400545).

156.

Loom weight (SF03503) Preserved height: ca. 7.0 cm. Dimensions of section: ca. 5.5 by 5.5 cm (bottom). Weight: 190 g (badly damaged). Terracotta. Date of comparanda: uncertain. West of later praetorium, Area 101. P3B/B (460).

157.

Loom weight (SF04016) Preserved height: 7.5 cm. Dimensions of section: ca. 1.8 by 1.8 cm (top); ca. 3.6 by 3.6 cm (bottom). Weight: 100 g. Terracotta. Coarse, slightly micaceous fabric. Pyramidal. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71, 72. P3B/D (545).

158.

Loom weight (SF10325) Preserved height: 8.5 cm. Dimensions of section: ca. 3.0 by 3.0 cm (top); ca. 6.5 by 6.5 cm (bottom). Weight: 290 g. Pyramidal. 'St George's' cross incised on top. Date of comparanda: uncertain. West of later praetorium, Area 101. P3B/B (460).

159.

Loom weight (SF00049) Preserved height: 7.7 cm. Dimensions of section: 2.0 by 2.6 cm (top); 4.5 by 4.5 cm (bottom). Weight: ca. 200 g. Terracotta. Pyramidal. Porous clay; light beige/rosy fabric. Oval indentation (thumb print?) on one face. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

160.

Loom weight (SF00141) Preserved height: 9.0 cm. Dimensions of section: 3.0 by 2.2 cm (top); 5.6 by 5.8 cm (bottom). Weight: ? Terracotta. Pyramidal. Beige, porous fabric. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

The Small Finds 37 161.

162.

Loom weight (SF00984) Preserved height: ca. 9.0 cm. Dimensions of section: ca. 3.0 by 3.5 cm (top); ca. 4.0 by 5.0 (bottom). Weight: 240 g. Terracotta. Roughly pyramidal. Rosy-coloured fabric. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO. Loom weight (SF01750) Preserved height: 6.0 ca. Dimensions of section: ca. 1.5 by 1.6 cm (top); 3.5 by 3.5 cm (bottom). Weight: ? Terracotta. Rosy/beigecoloured porous fabric. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

Spindle whorls, verticilli

(Fig. 20)

No spindles were found at San Giovanni di Ruoti, and the following three objects are the only articles recovered that may be identified as spindle whorls. In two cases, 163 and 164, the diameter of the canal is smaller than Crummy allowed for spindle whorls at Colchester - 0.5 cm - to allow the insertion of a spindle (1983, 67; cf. Wild 1970, 33). The diameter of the canal and the weight of a spindle whorl are related to the nature of the fibres spun. Interestingly enough, Diocletian set the price for a spindle and its whorl at 12d. This, as Wild 1970, 33 notes, was expensive, being equivalent to the price of a dozen eggs or 1 Ib of pork. 163.

164.

165.

Button or spindle whorl (?) (SF00037) Diameter: 0.8 cm. Height: 0.8 cm. Diameter of hole: 0.35 cm. Glass. Conical. Flattened on top and bottom. Transparent and blue tinged. Two such 'buttons' were found at Corinth (Davidson 1952, Nos. 2629-30). For other glass 'spindle whorls/ see Crowfoot 1957, 399 (Samaria-Sebaste). Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 41. Pl/D (220). Spindle whorl (?) (SF03278) Diameter at base: 2.2 cm. Height: 1.6 cm. Diameter of canal: ca. 0.3 cm. Unidentified bone. The base is flat while the top is rounded and incised with circumlinear decoration. Cf. Conimbriga VII, PI. 10-134, 49 and the authorities cited there; also 165 below. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500). Spindle whorl (SF04015) Diameter: 3.9 cm. Height: 1.4 cm. Diameter of canal: 0.9 cm. Bone, head of femur (bos/equust). Spindle whorls of a variety of materials are common at Roman sites across Europe and the Mediterranean world. Cf., inter al., Conimbriga VII, PI. 10-140, 49ff.; Smith 1920, 144, Fig. 173; Kenyon 1948, PI. 22, 272, No. 5; 164 above and Period 1,163. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71, 72. P3B/D (545).

Circular or irregularly shaped weights possibly associated with textile manufacture (Fig. 21)

There are several circular or irregularly shaped perforated fragments of tile at San Giovanni di Ruoti. These may or may not have been used in the weaving of homespun fabrics, as crude spindle whorls or loom weights (cf. Davidson 1952, Nos. 1210-11, 163 [re-used tile from Corinth]). Two were found in Period 1 contexts (166, 167) and two in a Period 3A layer (168a, b). Seven examples were found in Period 3B contexts (169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, and 175 [with no 'small find' number assigned]). Three were recovered from disturbed layers (176,177,178). The identification of these objects as associated with textile manufacture is tentative and it does not preclude their use for other purposes. The external diameter of these objects varies from ca. 7.0 to 20.0 cm. 166.

Circular weight (SF01652) Diameter: ca. 9.0 cm. Thickness: ca. 3.0 cm. Diameter of central hole: 3.7 cm. Terracotta. Possibly a loom weight. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Mill Area A102. PI/I (220 and later).

167.

Round weight (SF10468) Diameter: 8.0 cm. Thickness: 2.0 cm. Terracotta. Loom weight(?). Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 44. Pl/D (220).

168.

Circular weights (SF00953a, b) Diameter (a and b): 19.0 cm. Thickness (a and b): 2.8 cm. Diameter of central hole: 2.0 cm. Not illustrated. See below, Period 3B, 169. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 5. P3A/M1B (430-460).

169.

Circular weight (SF01851) Diameter: ca. 15.0 cm. Thickness: 2.8 cm. Diameter of central hole: 2.6 cm. Essentially, a piece of reworked tegula (cf. Partridge 1981, Fig. 33-17, 72). The dimensions are such that the object may have served as a loom weight. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 5. P3B/D (545).

170.

Circular weight (SF01861) Diameter: 9.5 cm. Thickness: 2.5 cm. Diameter of central hole: 2.2 cm. Weight: ? Terracotta. Essentially a rounded piece of tegula, similar to Period 1,166, above. Most likely a loom weight or, less likely given the size of the object, a spindle whorl. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/F (460-545).

38 The Small Finds 171.

172.

Faceted weight (SF03628) Max. dimensions: ca. 11.0 by 11.0 cm. Max. thickness: 2.2 cm. Hexagonal terracotta object with centrally placed hole. See 169 above. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 68. P3B/D (545).

III. ARTICLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROCESSING OF FOOD

Circular weight (SF04512) Diameter: ca. 14.0 cm. Thickness: 3.0 cm. Diameter of central hole: ca. 2.9 cm. Irregularly shaped circular piece of tegula. Cf. 169 above. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 78. P3B/M5T (490-535).

(Figs. 21,22)

173.

Circular weight (SF10176) Diameter: ca. 14.0 cm. Thickness: ca. 2.5 cm (?). Diameter of central hole: ? A piece of reworked tegula similar to 169 above. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 43. P3B/F (460-545).

174.

Circular weight (SF10228) Diameter: 8.0 cm. Thickness: 2.8 cm. Diameter of central hole: 3.3 cm. Weight: ? Similar to 170 above. Possibly a loom weight. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 43. P3B/F (460-545).

175.

Circular weight (SF number not assigned) Diameter: ca. 20.0 cm. Thickness: ? Diameter of central hole: ? Circular piece of tile, centrally perforated. Cf. 169 above. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 36. P3B/D (545).

176.

Circular weight (SF01072) Diameter: ca. 8.4 cm. Thickness: 2.5 cm. Diameter of central hole: ca. 1.9 cm. Roughly circular reworked piece of tegula. Most likely used as a loom weight or, possibly, a spindle whorl. Cf. Period 3B, 169. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

177.

Faceted weight (SF03619) Max. width: ca. 8.0 cm. Thickness: ca. 3.0 cm. Diameter of central hole: ca. 3.0 cm. Pentagonal, reused piece of tegula. Most likely used as a loom weight or, less likely, a spindle whorl. Cf. 178 below. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

178.

Faceted weight (SF03634) Max. width: ca. 7.0 cm. Thickness: 2.0 cm. Diameter of central hole (restored): ca. 3.0 cm. Cf. 177 above. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

Querns

Quernstones have not yet attracted much interest in Italy, though their value as indicators of trade patterns is becoming better known to social historians (cf. Peacock 1980, 33-53; id. 1986, 4551). Rotary hand querns are found on Roman and sub-Roman sites throughout Europe. See Crawford and Roder 1955, Fig. 1 for a basic typology of querns from Mayen in the Eifel. According to Peacock 1980, 44ff., there was a trade in Leucitophyre quernstones from the Orvieto region, vesicular lava from there being particularly suitable for the purpose of grinding grain. Trade was probably by sea from Cosa, the port nearest to Orvieto. Peacock notes several find spots for such quernstones in the Naples area including Paestum. There was also an overland trade to the Molise (see Peacock 1980, Fig. 1). The latest example known to Peacock is Hadrianic (p. 50). Another source of material for quernstones (red-brown persilicic lava) is attributed by Peacock to Sardinia, near the village of Mulargia. Trade in this material is dated to the fifth and sixth centuries and examples have been identified, for example, at Carthage. For all that, there is some doubt that the quernstones here represent an extension of Peacock's Group 1 (Orvieto) into the interior of Basilicata during the Roman period. On the contrary, the most likely provenience for the San Giovanni di Ruoti querns is the nearby mass of Monte Vulture, an extinct volcano. Appendix 3 gives details of work undertaken by Vito Volterra of McMaster University, Canada. He sampled three querns (SF01506, SF01757, SF03203) and subjected them to Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis using the University of Toronto's SLOWPOKE Reactor. The results obtained are consistent with the nearby source of lava. No chronological implications arise from the INAA investigation. For a general account of Roman grain milling practices, see Moritz 1958.

The Small Finds 39 179.

Quernstone (SF01759) Dimensions of fragment: ca. 8.0 by 6.0 cm. Thickness: 4.5 cm. Whether this fragment represents the bottom or top stone is not recorded in the field notes. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 64. P2/D (400).

187.

Quernstone (SF01083) Diameter: 30.0 cm. Thickness of rim: 11.0 cm. Thickness of rim: 11.0 cm. Bottom stone. Virtually intact. Convex base. Central pivot hole is slightly raised. See Period 2, 179, above. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

180.

Quernstone (SF00989) Preserved width: ca. 13.0 cm. Max. thickness: 4.5 cm. Whether this is a fragment of a top or bottom stone is unknown. See Period 2, 179, above. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 69. P3A/M1A (400-430).

188.

Quernstone (SF01506) Max. recorded dimensions: 12.0 by 8.4 cm. Thickness of rim: ca. 8.5 cm. Bottom stone. See Period 2,179, above, and Appendix 3, below. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

189. 181.

Quernstone (SF01084) Max diameter: 30.0 cm. Max. thickness: 5.5 cm. The bottom stone of a rotary handoperated quern, Crawford and Roder 1955, Fig. 1, Type 4. Concave lower side; convex upper side. Cf. Cunliffe 1971, Fig. 71-1,153 (Fishbourne). See Period 2, 179, above, and Peacock 1980, 43-53. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/B (460).

Quernstone (SF01510) Restored diameter: 32.8 cm. Thickness of rim: 5.3 cm. Bottom stone. A triangular fragment with central pivot hole surviving in part. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

190.

Quernstone (SF03203) Restored diameter: ca. 28.0 cm. Thickness: 4.1 cm. Impossible to say whether the fragment is from a top or bottom stone. See Period 2,179, above, and Appendix 3, below. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

182.

Quemstone (SF01741) Max. dimensions: 6.5 by 3.5 cm. Fragmentary and broken on all sides. A small portion of one surface survives. Whether it is a bottom or top stone is not recorded in the field notes. See Period 2, 179, above. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 59. P3B/B (460).

183.

Quernstone (SF01757) Restored diameter: ca. 24.0 cm. Thickness at rim: 9.0 cm. A rectangular slot is cut into the interior surface, presumably, as is suggested by Cunliffe 1971,153, Fig. 71-9, to provide 'keying for the teeth attached to the top of an iron spindle. Alternatively the stone may have been a fly wheel.' For a very similar stone, see Crawford and Roder 1955, Fig. 1, Type 6. Cf. Vol. I, p . 48; Small 1985,167. The restored dimensions of this quernstone do not preclude its operation by hand. See Period 2,179, above; also D.G. Buckley and H. Major in Crummy 1983, 73-6. See Appendix 3. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 33. P3B/M8 (490-535).

184.

Quernstone (SF04024) Restored diameter: ca. 11.0 cm. Thickness at rim: 9.0 cm. Top stone. See Period 2,179, above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 36. P3B/ D (545).

185.

Quernstone (SF10362) Max. dimensions: 8.5 by 6.4 cm. Top stone. Fragmentary with rim and central hole missing. See Period 2,179, above. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. East of Room 45, Area 106. P3B/B (460).

186.

Quernstone (SF00993) Max. recorded dimensions: 10.3 by 7.0 cm. Top stone. See Period 2, 179, above, for a summary of the literature; de Vos 1985, 70, Tav. 17-5. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

Stone mortars, mortaria (Figs. 23,24)

Stone mortars are not among the more common finds on Roman sites. None, for example, is recorded in Dyson 1983 (the Roman villas of the Buccino region close to San Giovanni di Ruoti). Nor are any recorded in the excavations at Conimbriga. A few occur in Romano-British contexts (cf. Wilson 1974, 453; Crummy 1983, 76). Such mortars do not seem to have received much individual study. Indeed, although Wilson loc. cit. suggests, on the basis of the excavator's report, that "stone dishes and bowls were made at the site' (Trethurgy, Cornwall), it is interesting to note that the manufacture of such vessels is not referred to by Blagg 1976,152-72. Similarly, Manning 1985,30f. is hesitant about the identification of masons' tools in his catalogue of iron equipment in the British Museum. None of the tools found at San Giovanni di Ruoti can be positively identified as an implement primarily used for stone-working and for the manufacture of mortaria. It should be noted also that mortars were undoubtedly used for a variety of purposes, from grinding foods to the preparation of medicaments and, perhaps, dyes and paints. A common use to which these objects were put is the

40 The Small Finds mincing of pepper as one of the ingredients of a wine-based beverage. (See Hermansen 1974, 178.) Two stone mortars are listed among the items inherited by Stephen at the house in Ravenna as being valued together at 1 gold siliqua. Thirteen are represented in this Catalogue. All are from contexts dated to within a hundred years before compilation of the Ravenna list in 564. However, the relatively large number of mortars recovered at San Giovanni may indicate some industrial rather than domestic use. None of the stone vessels in this catalogue displays evidence of being subjected to the very high temperatures associated with smelting or the manufacture of objects using molten metals. The vessels are included in the category of 'Articles associated with the processing of food' as a convenience based on what is most likely to have been their primary function. No pestles (pistilla, cf. Plautus Aul. 95) were identified among the minor objects from San Giovanni di Ruoti. 191.

Mortar (SF00990) Max. thickness of rim: 2.7 cm. This fragment of a lug (normally there would be four) is decorated with a palmette motif, quite crudely incised. The ovoid lug is ca. 5.5 cm long and ca. 6.0 cm. wide (at the rim). Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/B (460).

192.

Mortar (SF01079) Restored diameter: 22.0 cm. Thickness of rim: 2.0 cm. Thickness at base: 7.0 cm. Thickness of base: 6.0 cm (see also Fig. 49). The lugs for holding and pouring (?) are simple hemispherical protrusions at each quadrant. The interior of the vessel is hemispherical and ground smooth. The exterior, and especially the base, is quite roughly shaped. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 64. P3B/D (545).

193.

194.

Mortar (SF01380) Diameter of base: 13.0 cm. Max. thickness of rim: 1.7 cm. Thickness of base: 2.5 cm. Fragmentary. No surviving lugs. See 191 above. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 5. P3B/D (545). Mortar (SF01501) Max. height: ca. 10.0 cm. Interior diameter: ca. 20 cm. Max. thickness of rim: 2.3 cm. Thickness of base: ca. 3.0 cm. No surviving lugs. In appearance, this vessel is similar to 192 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 77. P3B/D (545).

195.

Mortar (SF01503) Restored interior diameter: ca. 18.0 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 2.5 cm. Quite fragmentary. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 77. P3B/RF (460-545).

196.

Mortar (SF03266) Max. height: ca. 19.0 cm. Restored interior diameter: ca. 20.0 cm. Max. thickness of rim: ca. 3.0 cm. A little over half of the vessel - and two lugs - survive (see also Fig. 50). Cf. 192 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 67. P3B/M6 (490-545).

197.

Mortar (SF03571) Restored interior diameter: ca. 22.0 cm. Only a part of the rim survives. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 78. P3B/M5T (490-535).

198.

Mortar (SF04028) Max. height: ca. 17.0 cm. No other dimensions are recorded in the field notes. No surviving lugs. For a general discussion, see 191 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 67. P3B/M6 (490-545).

199.

Mortar (SF04877) Max. height: ca. 11.0 cm. Cf. directly above, 198. This fragment was built into the north wall, F402, of Room 71. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71. P3B/C (460).

200.

Mortar (SF10161) Max. height: 9.4 cm. Restored interior diameter: ca. 22.0 cm. Max. thickness: 4.4 cm. Thickness of base: 2.2 cm. One surviving lug with incised grooves around the border and around the rim. Fragmentary, with only a quarter of the vessel extant. Similar in overall design and manufacture to 192 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. East of Room 61, Area 104. P3B/D (545).

201.

Mortar (SF10471) Max. height: 10.0 cm. Max. thickness: 1.9 cm. Fragmentary, with only a small portion of the wall surviving. Date of comparanda: uncertain. South of Room 43. P3B/M2N (400-545).

202.

Mortar (SF03264) Max. thickness at base: 12.0 cm. Max. thickness of rim: 4.5 cm. Fragmentary. Stone mortar well polished on hemispherical interior surface. Rough exterior that has a convex base. The restored diameter is ca. 34.0 cm. No surviving lugs. For comments on mortars, see 191 above. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

203.

Mortar (SF03200) Max. thickness at base: 1.3 cm (centre). Max. preserved thickness of rim: ca. 1.3 cm. Restored diameter: ca. 12.0 cm. Stone mortar, quite small. Most probably used for the preparation of medicines. Just less than half of the object survives. Two lugs for handles. Minimal decoration. The interior surface is polished smooth. The lugs - there were probably four - bear crude circumlinear ornament. Date of comparanda: uncertain, but of long duration. TO.

The Small Finds 41 Large stone basins, labra

Metal bowl

Large stone basins could be used for a variety of purposes - they are placed here, among articles associated with the processing of foodstuffs, because of their similarity to stone mortars. However, such objects were used also for laundry (cf. the Fullonica of Stephanus at Pompeii) and the washing of hands (cf. Deonna and Renard 1961, 75-77; Gregory of Tours, Hist. Franc. 8.2, 10.27). They occur also in bath suites (cf. in the caldarium of the Forum Baths, Pompeii). It is noteworthy that fragments of a large stone basin were found in Room 46, a room built on to the west side of the Period 3 bath suite during reconstruction carried out in P3A (204a, b, c, d). For the Fullonica of Stephanus and the Forum Baths at Pompeii, see Coarelli et al. 1976,194-97,131-36).

207.

204.

Basin (SF10242a, b, c, d) Max. preserved dimensions: 69.0 by 24 cm high. Thickness of wall: 10.0 cm. Thickness of base: 17.0 cm. Crudely chiselled. The function of this very large and, presumably, immobile vessel is unknown. It may, or may not, have been associated with the processing of foodstuffs. The basin is in four fragments found in two layers originally in Room 46 (see above comments in the discussion of the stone mortar 199) and found in Room 78. Fragments a and b represent parts of the rim and wall; c and d appear to be parts of the object's base. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 46. P3B/D (545).

205.

Basin (SF11030) Height: 25.0 cm. Exterior diameter: 44.0 cm. Max. thickness of wall: ca. 6.0 cm. Thickness of base: 9.9 cm. One and one-half of the wall of the object is preserved, as is approximately one-third of the base. Unlike the stone mortars described above, the interior of this basin is rough and pitted, while the exterior and rim (beaded) is relatively well dressed. The base is quite rough. Like the stone basin described directly above, the function of this object is not known. It was most likely used in the preparation of foodstuffs. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 37. P3B/F (460-545).

206.

Stone basin (SF03268) Max. recorded dimensions: ca. 40.0 by 23.0 cm. Max. thickness of preserved wall: ca. 8.0 cm. Width of external rim: ca. 9.0 cm. Fragmentary. Use unknown, perhaps for ablutions or for the preparation of foostuffs. Cf. de Vos 1985, 62, Tav. 13 (Settefinestre, Italy). Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

Bowl or platter rim (SF01110) Estimated diameter: 36.0 cm. Copper alloy (Fig. 25). Thin (0.05 cm) sheet with simple rolled rim, possibly hammered on a rectangular die. Cf. Cunliffe 1971, No. 153,120, Fig. 51. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/D (545).

IV. ARTICLES ASSOCIATED WITH WRITING

Styli

(Figs. 25,26) Fourteen objects among the minor objects recovered from San Giovanni di Ruoti have been identified, with more or less certainty, as being styli. One example of copper alloy is from a Period 1 context (208) and two, also of copper alloy, were recovered from disturbed layers (220,221 [uncertain identification]). The others were found in Period 3B contexts. Many, but not all, styli have a pointed and a broad head, the one for inscribing letters on wax tablets (tabelli) and the other for erasing such letters. Four of the San Giovanni di Ruoti examples appear thus, although their termini may have been broken off (212, 216, 217, 218). Styli differ markedly in shape one from another and may be made from a variety of materials (bone, copper alloy, iron [215, 216, 218], or even silver and gold. Cf. Conimbriga VII, 178; Manning 1985, 85). The pointed ends of styli were normally kept safe in sheaths, again made of a variety of metals. Several such stylus cases were recovered at San Giovanni di Ruoti. Styli were not merely used for everyday purposes. Their use is also prescribed for the engraving of magical spells and charms (cf. PGM 7.396ff. and, below, the amulet 369). The writing equipment indicates that there were literate people among the occupants. Literacy is certainly evidence of a degree of wealth, that is, it attests the fact of being able to afford either the cost of a rudimentary education or the services of a scribe.

42 The Small Finds 208.

209.

210.

211.

212.

213.

214.

215.

Stylus (SF00116) Preserved length: 9.5 cm. Copper alloy. The thickness varies between 0.1 cm and 0.4 cm. Tapering to a point at one end, it is bent at an angle of 30 degrees. Rectangular cross-section. Cf. A. Bohme 1978, B 454, 188, Taf. 31. For styli, see Conimbriga VII, 177-80; A. Bohme 1978,188; Manning 1985, 85. Date of comparanda: uncertain but of long duration. Room 3. Pl/O (1-220). Point or stylus (?) (SF00132) Preserved length: 7.0 cm. Max. diameter: 0.2 cm. Copper alloy. Circular crosssection. Tapers to a point at one end, broken off at the other. Cf. Waldbaum 1983, No. 250, 63, PI. 17; Conimbriga VII, 177-80; A. Bohme 1978, B 451, B 452, B 454, 188, Taf. 31 and authorities cited there (Kastell Oberstimm). Date of comparanda: uncertain, of long duration. Room 77. P3B/RF (500-545). Point or stylus (?) (SF01094) Preserved length: 9.5 cm. Max. thickness: 0.5 cm. Copper alloy. Rectangular cross-section at centre. Pointed at either end. Tentatively identified as a stylus. Cf. A. Bohme 1978, B 454, 188, Taf. 31 for a stylus with rectangular cross section toward one end. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/D (545). Point or stylus (?) (SF01117) Preserved length: 8.8 cm. Max. diameter: 0.2 cm. Copper alloy. Circular cross section. Cf. 209 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 30. P3B/D (545). Stylus (?) (SF01673) Preserved length: 8.1 cm. Max. dimensions of head: 1.4 by 0.15 cm. Copper alloy. Rectangular in cross-section, tapering shaft. Smaller rectangular point but broken off at the utmost extremity. Only the beginnings of the spatulate head are apparent. Cf. Conimbriga VII, No. 198,179, PI. 49. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/F (460-545). Stylus (?) (SF01799) Preserved length: 4.2 cm. Dimensions of head: 0.25 by 0.25 cm by 1.4 cm. Max. diameter of shaft: 0.35 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary. While this identification is quite uncertain, other possibilities are less likely. For cuboid-headed styli see, for example, Conimbriga VII, No. 196,179, PI. 49; Manning 1985, 85, Fig. 24-1, PI. 35-3,4; Smith 1920, 200, Fig. 240. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 56. P3B/B (460). Point or stylus (SF03238) Preserved length: 4.7 cm. Max. diameter: 0.15 cm. Copper alloy. Circular crosssection. Broken at one end. Cf. 209 above. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/ M4 (460-500). Point or stylus (SF04618) Preserved length: 14.0 cm. Max. thickness: 0.5 cm. Iron. Broken at either end. Bent

at 90 degrees 5.5 cm from thicker end. Tapers slightly. Identification is tentative. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 43. P3B/O (460-545). 216.

Stylus (SF04647) Preserved length: 11.0 cm. Max. width: 1.4 cm. Thickness of shaft: 0.4 cm. Iron. Almost intact, with point end broken off. Possesses characteristic flattened spatulate head for erasure of writing from wax tablets. Cf. Manning 1985,85, Fig. 24-la, 2a/ 3a, PI. 35-9, 17, 19; Conimbriga VII, No. 197-8, 179, PL 49 and 218 below. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71, 72. P3B/RR (460-545).

217.

Stylus (SF04786) Preserved length: 5.3 cm. Max. thickness: 0.3 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary. The one end is flat and rectangular in cross-section, the other broken off and irregular. Identification as stylus is tentative but likely correct. The shaft tapers somewhat. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. East of Room 68, Area 104. P3B/D (545).

218.

Stylus (?) (SF10151) Preserved length: 10.5 cm. Max. thickness: 0.5 cm. Iron. Identification is tentative. For parallels, see 216 above and the examples cited by Manning 1985, 85-7; Conimbriga VII, No. 197, 179, PL 49. Date of comparanda uncertain. South of Room 43, Area 100. P3B/M2N (400-545).

219.

Point or stylus (SF00012) Preserved length: 5.7 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary. Elongated subtriangular object, flattened toward one end. Its use as a stylus is the most likely identification, although uncertain. Cf. 210 (Period 3B). Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

220.

Stylus (?) (SF01022) Preserved length: 4.5 cm. Max. width: 0.8 cm. Copper alloy. Possibly fragmentary. The tapering shaft is rectangular in cross-section. One end of the object is pointed; the other is characteristically spatulate. Cf. 210 (Period 3B) for discussion and comparanda. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

221.

Point or stylus (?) (SF04747) Preserved length: 3.1 cm. Width of shaft: ca. 0.2 cm. Copper alloy. Flattened at one end; circular cross-section. Incised circumlinear ornament around the shaft. The identification of this object as a stylus is uncertain but likely (cf. Smith 1920, Fig. 240 [bottom left]). See also 209 (Period 3B). Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

Stylus cases (Fig. 26) 222.

Copper alloy cylinder (SF10142) Preserved length: 1.6 cm. Diameter: 0.7 cm. Small cylinder of copper alloy plate. Use unknown but possibly a ferrule or

The Small Finds 43 layer of brown clay deriving from the collapse of the dome of oven F446. The collapse took place before the final destruction, hence the designation 'occupation.' Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 67. P3B/O (460-545).

fragment of a stylus case. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 25. P2/D (400). 223.

224.

Stylus case (?) (SF00998) Length: 6.0 cm. Silver. Semicircular in cross-section with reel ornament at one end and tapering, through a ca. 30° curve, to a point at the other. The reel end was penetrated by a rivet. This identification is not secure. Styli, and, presumably, their cases or sheaths are normally made of iron, copper alloy, bone, or more rarely of ivory or silver (cf. Conimbriga VII, 178; Smith 1920, 199). Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/B (460). Stylus case (?) (SF03489) Preserved length: 3.5 cm. Max. diameter: ca. 0.5 cm. Identification is tentative. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500).

225.

Stylus case (?) (SF04644) Preserved length: 4.0 cm. Max. diameter: ca. 0.9 cm. Iron. Identification is tentative. Date of comparanda: uncertain. South of Room 43, Area 100. P3B/M2WT (400-545).

226.

Stylus case (?) (SF04725) Preserved length: 3.3 cm. Max. diameter: 0.6 cm. Copper alloy. Elongated roll of copper alloy plate forming a crude cylinder. The identification as a stylus case is uncertain but probable. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71, 72. P3B/M7 (490-535).

227.

Stylus case (SF04733) Preserved length: 3.0 cm. Max. diameter: 0.6 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary, only the tip of the stylus case remains. Made of thin plate (0.1 cm) rolled to a point. Cf. Cunliffe 1971, No. 133, 118, Fig. 49 (Richborough). Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 34. P3B/D (545).

228.

Stylus case (?) (SF04783) Preserved length: 6.8 cm. Copper alloy. Very tentative identification as stylus case. Made from metal ca. 0.1 cm thick rolled almost into a pipe. Cf. A. Bohme 1978, B 455, B 458, 188, Taf. 31. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 36. P3B/D (545).

229.

Stylus case (?) (SF04785) Preserved length: 3.5 cm. Copper alloy. Very tentative identification as stylus case or sheath. Made from metal plate less than 0.1 cm thick. Folded almost to a cylinder. Cf. 228 above. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71, 72. P3B/RR (500-545).

230.

Stylus case (?) (SF04788) Preserved length: 4.9 cm. Copper alloy plate ca. 0.1 cm thick rolled into a tapering cylinder/pipe. Fragmentary, with associated minute pieces. Max. diameter is ca. 2.0 cm. Found in a

231.

Stylus case (SF04051) Preserved length: 4.5 cm. Max. diameter: 0.55 cm. Copper alloy. Made from metal less than ca. 0.1 cm thick rolled into an elongated cone. Cf. Cunliffe 1971, Fig. 49-133. Date of comparanda: uncertain but of long duration. TO.

Seal box (Fig. 26) 232.

Seal box lid (SF01785) Length: 3.4 cm. Max. width: 1.7 cm. Max. thickness: 0.15 cm. Copper alloy. Characteristic leaf-shaped seal box lid with traces of turquoise enamel within curvilinear raised cells. Locating-pin at tip is barely visible. All that remains of the hinge is a small projection. Cf. Goodburn and Grew 1984, No. 101, 39, Fig. 13 (Verulamium); Henderson 1949, No. 77, PL 34; Smith 1920,155, Fig. 191-e; Crummy 1983, Nos. 2523, 2525, 2527; pp. 103f., Fig. 106. This example is similar to Crummy's Type 4 at Colchester, which is said to be 'late Roman,' though apparently seal boxes ceased to be popular in the late third century (Henderson, No. 75). The Verulamium example was found in a late-fourth-century context. Date of comparanda: second/third century, possibly later. Room 61. P3B/D (545).

V. ARTICLES ASSOCIATED WITH WEIGHING Weights (Fig. 26)

233.

Pendant/weight (SF03225) Height: 11.5 cm. Maximum width: 9.1 cm. Cast copper alloy. This object is most likely a weight for a large steelyard. The lower part, below the attachment ring, is spade-like with a 'fleurde-lis' terminal. It exhibits a severe convex curve. The attachment ring is centrally placed, the internal diameter of the hole being 2.0 cm. The piece is vaguely similar to an object discovered at Corinth (cf. Davidson 1952, No. 846). There is no evidence of wear along the object's edges that would suggest use as an agricultural implement. The weight of the piece is not recorded. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P2/ B (350).

44 The Small Finds 234.

Stone weight (SF03215) Preserved length: 3.5 cm. Maximum diameter: 3.5 cm. Diameter of face: 2.8 and 2.7 cm. The weight and composition of the piece are not recorded. Most likely a weight. Cf. Henderson 1949, No. 135, PL 38. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 18. P2/F (350-400).

235.

Lead weight (SF10147) Height: 5.5 cm. Diameter of base: 4.4 cm. Lead. Piriform with iron point. Weight: 500 g. Little evidence of oxidization (cf. the discussion directly below, 236). Possibly a plumb-bob or counterweight for a steelyard. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 43. P3B/F (460-545).

Frere 1984a, 57, No. 210 [Verulamium].) The pan (SF01808) is in the form of a meniscus. Three indentations on the circumference are all that remains of the holes through which the the suspension chains were threaded. Weights and measures were important standards in the Roman world, before and after the reforms of Constantine. This steelyard, like others, conforms to the description of Vitruvius 10.3.4. Standard weights were deposited in temples at Rome and replicas were available at principal cities throughout the Empire. (Cf. Conimbriga VII, 175; Ward Perkins and Claridge 1978, No. 234.) The form of steelyards has not changed much between antiquity and the present day (cf. H. W. Bohme 1974, Taf. Ill, No. 10 [Vieuxville], dated to the middle of the fifth century, which is very similar to the present object). Such instruments of measure are still sold and used as everyday items in the region around San Giovanni di Ruoti. Date of comparanda: uncertain, possibly mid-fifth century or later. Room 56. P3B/B (460).

Steelyard (Fig. 26) 236.

Steelyard (statera) (SF01807-8) Length of arm: 7.8 cm. Height of counterweight: 0.8 cm. Dimensions of counterweight base: ca. 1.0 by 1.0 cm. Diameter of pan: 2.7 cm. Thickness of pan: 0.5 mm. Copper alloy. Essentially intact, though the suspension chains for the pan are missing and the fulcrum is broken. A steelyard is distinguished from a balance (libra) in that it is a scale with beam arms of unequal weight (Crummy 1983,99). This object is very small and was probably used as an apothecary's measure (cf. Henderson 1949, 131, No. 133 [Richborough]). The mid-point of the fulcrum is 2.5 cm from the 'pan' end of the arm, which is slightly bulbous and pierced through with a small copper alloy ring from which the pan was suspended. The opposite end of the arm is flattened. There appears to have been only one fulcrum. The arm is marked with three transverse incisions, which presumably formed the scale. The first mark is 1.8 cm distant from the end opposite to the pan. The second mark is 1.8 cm from the first mark and 1.8 cm from the fulcrum. The third mark, nearest to the fulcrum, is placed 0.6 cm from the second incision. The relationship between the marks (3:3:1) suggests that a standard unit was measured. (For the ratio of 1:3, see also Frere 1984a, 57, No. 210.) Most probably the divisions corresponded to the Roman ounce, or fractions of an ounce, of which there were twelve to a pound (1 uncia = 27.29 g). The counterweight is made of lead and covered with a thin copper alloy plate (cf. Frere 1972, 124, Fig. 37, No. 92 [Verulamium]; Waldbaum 1983, No. 435 [Sardis]). Lead oxidizes rapidly, hence the need for a copper alloy sheath. The counterweight is fragmentary, with suspension hook and lower reaches missing. It has the appearance of an acorn, conical with foliate decoration. (For an undecorated acorn counterweight, see Henderson 1949, No. 134, PL 38.) The counterweight would have been moved along the beam until equilibrium was reached. Equilibrium in the use of a steelyard is reached when the weight multiplied by the distance from the fulcrum is equal on either side of the arm. (For methods of use, see also Conimbriga VII, 175;

VI. TOOLS (KNIFE BLADES AND OTHER IMPLEMENTS) Stone objects (Fig. 27) 237.

Obsidian flake (SF01789) Preserved length: 1.6 cm. Maximum thickness: 0.2 cm. Minimum thickness: 0.05 cm. Triangular, bi-facially worked with central ridge. Black; almost transparent edges. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 75. Pl/O (1-220).

238.

Worked chert (SF03492) Max. dimensions: 1.4 by 0.3 cm. Unidentifiable use. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

239.

Flint point (SF00139) Max. dimensions: ca. 2.0 by 2.7 by 3.0 cm. Triangular point of worked flint. The exact mineralogical composition is not recorded. Date of comparanda: quite uncertain. TO.

Bone objects (Fig. 27)

240.

Bone blade (SF01767) Preserved length: ca. 9.9 cm. Max. width: 1.3 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 0.25 cm. The handle portion of this 'knife' is integral with the blade but demarcated from it by a notch on the cutting edge ca. 3.3 cm from the utmost point (intact). The blade itself is wedge-shaped, ca. 1.5 cm wide. The blade is markedly convex. The object resembles the form of a scalpel. Use unknown. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/D (545).

The Small Finds 45 241.

Bone handle (SF04011) Preserved length: 6.0 cm. Diameter: 0.8 cm. Lathe-spun handle with slightly bulbous terminus. The surviving terminus is decorated with incised circumlinear ornament. That end is pierced beneath the decoration with a hole to accommodate an attachment ring. Cf. Neal 1974, No. 334, Fig. 67. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71, 72. P3B/RR (500-545).

Metal blades

(Figs. 27,28,29)

242.

243.

Iron knife blade (SF10248) Total length: 22.0 cm. Length of blade: 13.0 cm. Length of tang: ca. 6.0 cm. Thickness: 0.6 cm. Possibly the blade of a pruning hook but more likely, given the straightness of the blade, a knife. The tang is flattened and off-centre. Its terminus is bent at right angles. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 44. Pl/D (220). Iron blade (SF00066) Preserved length: 10.8 cm. Thickness: 0.4 cm. Heavily corroded and covered with rust. Cf. Manning 1985, Q26,113, PI. 54 (Hod Hill). For this, and other tools in the Catalogue, cf. the reliefs on the gravestone of L. Cornelius Atimetus at Rome: Gaitzsch 1984, Abb. 6, 7. For cutting or chopping. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain, possibly mid-first century F98. P2/O (350-400).

244.

Iron blade (SF00115) Preserved length: 6.4 cm. Preserved length of tang: 1.8 cm. Width: 2.1 cm. Small, fragmentary blade with tip of blade and terminus of off-centre tang missing. Much rusted. For cutting or chopping. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 13. P2/D (400).

245.

Iron blade (SF01749) Preserved length (including tang): 18.1 cm. Length of blade: 13.4 cm. Maximum width of blade: 5.6 cm. The blade is leaf-shaped, with the tang projecting from, and aligned with, the upper straight edge. The tang has a more or less rectangular cross-section. The shape of the implement is characteristic of a butcher's cleaver. Cf. Collingwood and Richmond 1969, Plate XXIe; Manning 1985, Q101, 123, PI. 57 (Hod Hill, Manning Type 5). For chopping. Date of comparanda: uncertain. F215. P2/C (350).

246.

Iron blade (SF01126) Preserved length: 7.0 cm. Max. width: 1.0 cm. Much corroded. No distinguishing features and no tang. For cutting. Cf. the evidence of the metal blades in Period 3 with the faunal evidence in the form of bones of pigs that were found in copious numbers in the middens (cf. Small 1980, 1985; Steele 1983; Barnish 1987; Potter 1987, 213-14; MacKinnon 1993). Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 5. P3A/ M1B (430-460).

247.

Iron blade (SF00107) Preserved length: 5.5 cm. Max. width: ca. 1.2 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 0.3 cm. Fragmentary, with tang missing. Very corroded. The blade appears to be relatively straight, although the cutting edge curves sharply toward a point. Belonging to a small knife or razor. The shape is similar to Conimbriga VII, No. 79,164, PI. 42. Cf. Manning 1985, Q71,118, PI. 56. For cutting. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 77. P3B/F (460-545).

248.

Iron blade (SF00146) Preserved length: 6.7 cm. Max. width: ca. 1.7 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 0.3 cm. Fragmentary, with tang missing. See 247 above. For cutting. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 77. P3B/F (460-545).

249.

Iron blade (SF01128) Preserved length: 8.2 ca. Max. width: ca. 1.5 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 0.4 cm. Length of tang (fragmentary): ca. 3.5 cm. Fragmentary. The blade is wedge-shaped, with the non-cutting edge fairly straight and the cutting edge gently curved both to the tang and the point. The tang is rectangular in cross-section (0.6 by 0.2 cm). It is placed more or less centrally to the blade, which it joins in a smooth curve. A little corroded. Similar to Manning 1985, Q57, 117, PI. 55. For cutting. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 30. P3B/O (460-545).

250.

Iron blade (SF01730) Preserved length: 9.5 cm. Max. width: 2.1 cm. Max. thickness: 0.6 cm. Preserved length of tang: ca. 3.3 cm. The subrectangular tang tapers to a point (missing). It is centrally placed. The wedge-shaped blade is similar to Manning 1985, Type 18a/b, Fig. 29. For cutting. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 62. P3B/D (545).

251.

Iron blade (SF01774) Preserved length: 7.8 cm. Max. width: ca. 1.8 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 0.3 cm. Fragmentary, with tang missing. The cutting edge is curved toward the point; the other edge is relatively straight. Wedge-shaped. Cf. 247,248 above. For cutting. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500).

252.

Iron blade (SF01777) Preserved length: 7.7 cm. Max. width: ca. 1.9 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 0.4 cm. Fragmentary, with tang and point missing. Wedge-shaped and similar in appearance to above 247, 248, 251. For cutting. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500).

253.

Iron blade (SF01790) Preserved length: 10.4 cm. Max. width (at shoulder): ca. 1.9 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 0.3 cm. Length of tang (fragmentary): ca. 4.0 cm. Knife blade. Triangular blade from the shoulder. The offcentre tang continues the line of the outer edge of the blade. Similar to Manning 1985, Q35,114, Fig. 29, Type

46 The Small Finds lla, PI. 54. The tang is rectangular in cross-section (ca. 0.8 by 0.4 cm). It shows little evidence of tapering to a point. For cutting. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500). 254.

255.

Iron blade (SF01796) Preserved length: 14.1 cm. Max. width: ca. 1.2 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 0.4 cm. Length of tang (fragmentary): ca. 6.0 cm. Wedge-shaped with central subrectangular tang (0.7 by 0.3 cm). The tang curves gently into the leaf-shaped blade. The blade is elongated with its cutting edge curving gently to the point. Similar to Manning 1985, Q57, 117, PL 56, but much less wide. For cutting. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500). Iron blade (SF03213) Preserved length: 8.5 cm. Max. width: ca. 1.2 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 0.3 cm. Length of tang (fragmentary): ca. 0.7 cm. The remains of the centrally placed tang are subrectangular (0.6 by 0.3 cm). The blade, most likely of a knife, has the appearance of an elongated triangle, with only a very slight convex curve to the point. For a larger example, cf. 254 above. For cutting. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 78. P3B/M5T (490-535).

256.

Iron blade (SF03214) Preserved length: 14.6 cm. Max. width: 1.6 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 0.4 cm. Length of tang (fragmentary): ca. 5.5 cm. The tang is subrectangular (0.8 by 0.4 cm). It is centrally placed and shows little evidence of tapering to a point (cf., for example, 255). The wedge-shaped blade is in the form of an elongated triangle (cf. 254 above, though with a more distinct shoulder). For cutting. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 67. P3B/M6 (490-545).

257.

Iron blade (SF03216) Preserved length: 16.5 cm. Max. width: 2.2 cm (at shoulder). Max. thickness: ca. 0.4 cm. Length of tang: ca. 5.8 cm. The subrectangular tang (0.3 by 0.9 cm) is placed toward the upper, non-cutting edge of the blade and tapers somewhat. It may or may not be fragmentary. The blade is wedge-shaped, in the form of a fairly elongated triangle. The point is broken off. For cutting. Cf. 256 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71, 72. P3B/D (545).

258.

259.

Iron blade (SF04021) Preserved length: 8.1 cm. Max. width: 1.2 cm. Max. thickness: 0.3 cm. Broken off at either end; point and tang missing. For cutting. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 43. P3B/D (545). Iron blade (SF04031) Preserved length: 8.6 cm. Max. width: 1.9 cm. Max. thickness: 0.4 cm. Length of tang (fragmentary): ca. 1.5 cm. The tang is placed toward the upper, non-cutting edge of the blade. The blade tapers to a point that has not been preserved. Manning 1985, Q48, 114, Fig. 29, Type 14, PI. 55. For cutting.

Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71/72. P3B/O (460-545). 260.

Iron blade (SF04033) Preserved length: 15.1 cm. Max width: 1.7 cm (at shoulder). Max. thickness: 0.2 cm. Length of tang: ca. 7.1 cm. The length of the tang relative to other examples from San Giovanni di Ruoti is unusual but is not exceptional for the Roman world (cf. Manning 1985, PI. 55-Q50, Q51). For cutting. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 43. P3B/M7 (490-535).

261.

Iron blade (SF04059) Preserved length: 12.2 cm. Max. width: ca. 1.8 cm. Max. thickness: 0.3 cm. Length of tang (fragmentary): ca. 3.0 cm. The tang is placed centrally and is subrectangular (0.2 by 0.9 cm). The blade is very corroded but appears to taper to a point now missing. For cutting. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 43. P3B/O (460-545).

262.

Iron blade (SF04609) Preserved length: ca. 7.0 cm. Max. width: 1.7 cm. Max. thickness: ? No remaining tang; point missing. Described as 'flat.' Much corroded. For cutting. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 43. P3B/M7 (490-535).

263.

Iron blade (SF01753) Preserved length: 15.3 cm. Max. width: 8.9 cm. Max. thickness: 1.6 cm. Axe blade, maximum width between blade points is given above as 'preserved length' (see also Fig. 51). The thickness of the blade tapers to 0.03 cm. Socket is missing. Convex on either side of blade (cf. H.W. Bohme 1974, Taf. 65-8 [Rhenen Grave 389]; though this item more likely represented an example of 'military' equipment). The most commonly found are 'single curve' variants of the 'dolabra.' Cf. Waldbaum 1983, 48 and No. 130. For chopping. Date of comparanda: uncertain, possibly early fifth to sixth centuries A.D. Room 62. P3B/D (545).

264.

Iron blade (SF04039) Preserved length: 16.0 cm. Max. width: ca. 6.6. cm (at shoulder). Max. thickness: ca. 0.25 cm. Preserved length of tang: ca. 6.1 cm. Flat, triangular blade with tang aligned with non-cutting edge. Comparable to Manning 1985, Q42, 114, Type 12b, PI. 54. For chopping. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71, 72. P3B/D (545).

265.

Iron blade (SF03217) Preserved length: 8.7 cm. Max. width: 3.0 cm. Max. thickness: 0.1 cm. Length of tang: ca. 4.0 cm. The blade is broken off. The tang is offcentre and triangular. Similar to Manning Type 18b/ 19 (Manning 1985, Fig. 29). For cutting. Date of comparanda: uncertain but of long duration. TO.

The Small Finds 47

Implements used in woodworking

272.

Iron bit-heads (SF03212a, b) Preserved length: (a) 14.5 cm; (b) 8.0 cm. Max. dimensions: (a) 1.6 by 1.4 cm; (b) 1.5 by 1.3 cm. Both objects are pyramidal in cross-section and taper toward either end. Cf. Manning 1976, Nos. 29-34, 21f., Fig. 30; Henderson 1949, No. 282, PL 50; Manning 1985, CIO, 32, PL 13 ('modelling tool'); ibid., B63-69, 27, PL 12 ('bit-heads'). Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 78. P3B/M5T (490-535).

273.

Iron gouge (SF04036) Length: 17.8 cm. Max. thickness of head: 2.6 cm. Max. thickness of shaft: 1.4 cm. Maximum width of gouge: 1.4 cm. The head is rectangular in cross-section and thick in relation to the shank (which has a square cross-section) and bit. The bit tapers to a point and is concave. The tool was undoubtedly used in conjunction with a mallet. Gouges of these dimensions were used in the shaping of such wooden objects as beams. Cf. Conimbriga VII, No. 30, 21; Manning 1985, B48, 25, PL 11. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 36. P3B/D (545).

274.

Iron chisel (SF04065) Preserved length: 12.5 cm. Max. width: 1.2 cm. Flattened at one end to form a bit 1.2 cm wide. The other end is pointed. Rounded cross-section. Heavily corroded. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 43. P3B/O (460-545)

275.

Iron auger (SF04066) Length: 44.3 cm. Max. width of 'bit': 3.8 cm. Long shaft to rectangular, flattened handle. The 'bit' is deeply concave and, like Waldbaum No. 165, 'spatulate with rounded edge forming a kind of scoop.' The handle may or may not have been set in wood. Cf. also Waldbaum 1983, 53. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 37. P3B/D (545).

276.

Iron paring chisel (SF04682) Preserved length: 5.3 cm. Max. width: 1.9 cm. The object - its identification as a paring chisel is not secure - tapers to a point at one end and widens to an apparent blade at the other. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 78. P3B/M5T (490-535).

277.

Iron chisel or gouge (SF04710) Length: 10.7 cm. Maximum width of head: 1.8 cm. Width of shank: 1.0 cm. Maximum width of 'bit': 1.9 cm. Iron. The purpose of this tool is probably similar to 273 above. The tool is heavily corroded. It may have been used in conjunction with a mallet. See 273 above for parallel. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 37. P3B/D (545).

278.

Iron beam gouge (SF04776) Length: 37.0 cm. Thickness of shank: 2.0 cm. in cross-section. Heavily corroded with tip of 'bit' missing. Similar function to 275 above. 'Bit' apparently shaped in the form of a scoop or 'spoon.' For parallels, see above. Date of comparanda: late fourth to sixth century. Room 37. P3B/D (545).

(Figs. 30,31)

266.

267.

268.

269.

270.

271.

Iron mortise chisel (SF01140) Length: ca. 16.0 cm. Dimensions of head: 1.3 by 1.4 cm. Max. width of blade: 1.9 cm. Max. thickness of blade: 0.3 cm. This object is most likely to be identified as a mortise chisel, given its dimensions and its solid head, which is square in cross-section. The object is bent at the join between the tapering head and shaft and the splayed, triangular blade, no doubt as the result of use. It appears to have been used in conjunction with a hammer. Cf. Waldbaum 1983, No. 156, 52, PI. 12. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/B (460). Iron paring chisel (SF01254) Length: 6.4 cm. Max. width of blade: 1.1 cm. While the identification of this object is uncertain, it is most likely an example of a paring chisel, which would have been used for finishing work and guided by hand. The shank is rounded and could not have been driven by a mallet or hammer. The maximum thickness of the shank is 0.5 cm. See Manning 1985, 21f. and 271 below. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/D (545). Iron mortise chisel (SF01257) Preserved length: 9.5 cm. Max. dimensions of head: 0.9 by 0.9 cm. Square crosssection tapering to a point. No doubt used in conjunction with a mallet. Cf., though smaller, Conimbriga VII, No. 25, 23, PL 2; Manning 1985, B40, 23, PI. 11 (cf. PI. 10-B38). Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 30. P3B/ B (460). Iron gouge or chisel (SF01779) Preserved length: 18.5 cm. Max. width of head: 3.8 cm. Max. width of bit (?): ca. 1.0 cm. Apparently socketed. The shaft is square in cross-section. Much rusted. Cf. Conimbriga VII, No. 29, 23, PL 3; Manning 1985, B35, 23, PL 10. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 59. P3B/B (460). Iron mortise chisel (SF01794) Preserved length: 18.5 cm. Diameter of head: 2.5 cm. Max. length of shaft: ca. 10.0 cm. Max. dimensions of shaft: ca. 1.0 by 1.0 cm. The shaft is square in cross-section. The blade is missing. Socketed. Cf. 269 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/F (460-545). Iron paring chisel (SF01849) Preserved length: 7.1 cm. Max. width of blade: 2.5 cm. Min. thickness of blade: 0.1 cm. Fragmentary with most of shaft missing. The blade is splayed. For a larger example, see Conimbriga VII, No. 13,22, PL 1. Cf. also Waldbaum 1983, No. 155, 52, PL 12; Manning 1985, 21, Fig. 4-1. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500).

48 The Small Finds 279.

Iron chisel (SF11022) Preserved length: 6.7 cm. Max. width: 1.2 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 1.0 cm. Heavily corroded. Essentially straight but tapering to a point, which may, or may not, be broken off. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 37. P3B/F (460545).

284.

Copper alloy tongue (SF00988) Preserved length: 7.7 cm. Max. width: 1.8 cm. Max. thickness: 0.4 cm. Thickness of point: 0.2 cm. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 64. P3A/M1A (400-430).

Iron tine (SF01041) Preserved length: 15.0 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 1.0 cm. The head of this metal spike is subrectangular in cross-section. The shaft, which tapers to a point, is rounded. Likely the tine of a pitchfork or rake with six or four prongs. Cf. Matthaus 1984, 139-158, Abb. 45-48. Matthaus cites Cato 10.311.4, Pliny NH 18.180, and Vergil Gear. 1.94f. for the use of the six- and four-tined rake (rastrum) in earlier antiquity. Columella 3.11.3 refers to the use of the rake or mattock in land that is difficult to work. It is not impossible, though unlikely, that tools identified earlier in this Catalogue as 'woodworking' implements (cf. 266, 267, 268, 269, 271) are actually tines. Date of comparanda: uncertain. F723. P3B/D (545).

285.

Iron awl or punch (SF01210) Length: 4.2 cm. Max. dimensions of head: 0.5 by 0.5 cm. Length of head: ca. 1.4 cm. The point is cylindrical and without facets. Cf. Manning 1985, 39-42. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 64. P3B/D (545).

Iron tine or point (SF01112) Preserved length: 15.2 cm. Max. diameter: 0.5 cm. This straight iron point possibly represents the tine of a rastrum; though even this identification is quite uncertain. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Cistern F723. P3B/D (545).

286.

Iron tine/spike (SF01238) Preserved length: 13.5 cm. Max. dimensions of head: 0.4 by 0.8 cm. The head is rectangular in cross-section, with the shaft rounded and tapering to a point. Cf. 284 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/D (545).

287.

Iron tine (SF01795) Preserved length: 25.7 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 1.8 cm. Bent towards one end (presumably in the direction of the handle). Most likely the tine of a rastrum. The object is square in cross-section and relatively well preserved. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 60. P3B/D (545).

288.

Iron tine (SF10251) Preserved length: unrecorded. Max. thickness: unrecorded. Subrectangular in crosssection. Tapers to a point (missing). The non-working end curves toward the shaft. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

Implements possibly associated with leatherworking (Fig. 32) 280.

281.

282.

283.

Bone awl (SF01658) Preserved length: 3.7 cm. The identification of this object is uncertain. The shape, however, resembles Manning 1985, Fig. 9-2 (iron). The article would have been used for perforating or decorating items of leather. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/F (460-545). Iron pin (SF01733) Preserved length: 3.3 cm. Point broken off but small, round head intact. Perhaps for leatherworking. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500).

Implements associated with agriculture (Fig. 32) These are tools that have been associated with 'agriculture/ Whether the tools were used in caring for pastoral animals, in pork production, or in the growing of cereal crops is quite uncertain. Pitchforks, for example, could have been used, as they are today, for a variety of purposes from turning hay to cleaning out byres or stables. The essentially limited character of the implements represented - only a few forks - suggests that the main area of the estate that may have been devoted to agricultural production has yet to be found and excavated (if indeed there was such an area).

Other implements 289.

Fish hook (SF03279) Length of shaft: 6.0 cm. Diameter of hook: 5.3 cm. Length of fluke: 0.7 cm. Copper alloy, single internal fluke. Tapered shaft with incisions at the extremity to facilitate attachment of the line (Fig. 32). Cf. Cunliffe 1971 (Vol. 2), 118, Fig. 51-149, 150 (Fishbourne); Davidson 1952, Nos. 1447-8, PI. 88 (Corinth); Fama 1985, 65, Tav. 15-2 (Settefinestre, Italy). Date of comparanda: uncertain; the Fishbourne examples are dated to the late third to early fourth centuries. Room 18. Pl/D (220).

290.

Tile or plaster comb (SF00985) See 28 above.

The Small Finds 49 Tools and implements of unknown use

Width: 4.2 cm. Fragmentary plaque with one rivet hole. Function uncertain. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 69. P3A/M1B (430-460).

(Fig. 33)

291.

Bone peg (SF01091) Preserved length: 1.8 cm. Max. diameter: 1.1 cm. The function of this object is uncertain. It is too thick to have served as the terminus of a hairpin and is, therefore, described as a peg. Evidently turned on a lathe, it is decorated with two incised reels. The larger end appears to show evidence of the depression left by the lathe tailstock. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 69. LP3A/M1A (400-430).

292.

Iron spike (SF03498) Preserved length: 14.0 cm. Max. dimensions of point: 0.5 by 0.6 cm. Use uncertain, possibly a tine of an agricultural implement (rastrum, cf. above 284). Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 67. P3B/M6 (490-545).

293.

Iron pin (SF04726) Length: 5.5 cm. Max. thickness: 0.1 cm. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500).

294.

Iron pin (SF10162) Preserved length: 11.5 cm. Max. dimensions of stem: ca. 0.6 by 0.6 cm. Quadrate crosssection with conical head. Well preserved. Broken at point. Possibly a linch pin. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 52. P3B/D (545).

295.

Iron spike with 'tang' (SF10231) Preserved length: 12.0 cm. Max. thickness: ? Quadrate cross-section. The 'tang' is bent, presumably toward the handle. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 38. P3B/D (545).

296.

Lead ring (SF01141) Interior diameter: 1.5 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 0.8 cm. Penannular, but with flattened adjoining ends. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/D (545).

297.

Copper alloy point (SF03528) Preserved length: ca. 5.0 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 1.5 by 1.5 cm. At one end the object is quadrate in cross-section; the other end is shaped in the form of a hook. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

299.

Bone applique (SF04003) Preserved length: 2.6 cm. Max. width: 2.8 cm. Max. thickness: 0.5 cm. Decorated on one side with abstract incised ornament within a flat and smooth boundary. Tapering in thickness to ca. 0.1 cm. Similar in function, perhaps, to 301 below (intarsia strip). Undoubtedly a decorative element for a piece of furniture. Cf. the throne of Maximian (Ravenna) and 302 below. Date of comparanda: uncertain, possibly fourth century or later. Room 78. P3B/D (545).

300.

Bone applique (SF04004) Preserved height: 3.9 cm. Max. width: ca. 2.5 cm. Max. thickness: 1.4 cm. Fully modelled, front facing head. Features and swept back hair are clearly defined. The back of the head is flat and describes a right angle above the hair, drawing to a chamfered point (see also Fig. 52). Undoubtedly this object was used as decoration for a piece of furniture (likely a chair or table moulding). The flexed right leg of a figure, modelled in bone, found at Colchester probably fulfilled a similar function. Cf. Crummy 1983, No. 2160. Date of comparanda: uncertain, probably no earlier than the late fourth century. Room 34. P3B/M7 (490535).

301.

Bone inlay (SF04005) Preserved length: 6.7 cm. Width: 1.7 cm. Thickness: 0.6 cm. This rectangular object of worked bone is decorated at either end with incised transverse grooves. Either side is chamfered to half the object's thickness. There are no rivet holes or other apparent means of fixing the inlay to the larger object. The object may represent an intarsia strip that would have been recessed into a piece of wooden furniture (a footstool, for example) to act as a strengthener (cf. Ward Perkins and Claridge 1978,178). The chamfered and transverse linear ornament is a very common style of decoration in the later years of the western empire. Cf. H.W. Bohme 1974, Tafeln, passim. Date of comparanda: uncertain, probably fifth century. Room 37. P3B/D (545).

302.

Bone applique (SF04744) Length: 2.9 cm. Max. width: 3.3 cm. Thickness: ca. 0.5 cm. Similar to 299 above and, perhaps, part of the same piece. Also tapering on one side to a minimum thickness of ca. 0.1 cm. Date of comparanda: uncertain, possibly as early as the fourth century. Room 71, 72. P3B/D (545).

303.

Bone inlay (SF10163) Preserved length: 3.3 cm. Width: 1.7 cm. Thickness: 0.3 cm. Similar use to 301 above. Unchamfered and decorated with two longitudinal incisions along the edges. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 43. P3B/F (460-545).

VII. FURNISHINGS, FASTENINGS, AND FIXTURES Furniture attachments Objects of bone

(Fig. 33) 298.

Bone plaque (SF01150) Preserved length: 1.2 cm.

50 The Small Finds

Objects of copper alloy (Fig. 34) 304.

305.

306.

307.

Copper alloy plate applique (SF00039) Length: 3.6 cm. Max. width: 0.7 cm. Made from metal sheet less than ca. 0.1 cm thick. Virtually horizontal along one edge, the object's other horizontal edge is curvilinear. A similar object from Corinth was described as a 'copper alloy vase foot' (Davidson 1952, No. 539). A more probable function is as an ornamental applique to a wooden chest or box. Cf. 311 (Period 3B). Date of cornparanAa: uncertain. Room 19. P2/O (350-400). Copper alloy applique (SF00093) Preserved height: 2.8 cm. Length of each 'wing': 5.5 cm. Cast metal. Fragmentary and missing lower elements (also Fig. 53). This is an applique that formed the top of a table-leg. While the piece is cast at right angles, the table surface may itself have been circular (cf. Liversidge 1968, Fig. 4.14). The decoration is most likely based on the elements of an Ionic capital (cf. the leg decoration of a miniature copper alloy altar from Pompeii [Mus. Arch. Naz. Napoli, Inv. 73997 in Ward Perkins and Claridge 1978, 187, no. 202]). The lower (missing) decoration may have been zoomorphic, as in the example just cited (a lion's paw). The cast volutes were probably a decorative element in themselves (cf. Liversidge 1968, 165 and PI. 4.29). The parallels cited here would suggest a relatively early date in the imperial period. However, consular diptychs in the sixth century also display thrones with 'lion's paw' legs and similar, possibly cast, volutes. Cf. the representations on the throne of Areobindus (cos. 506, cf. RE 1.2.1 [1895], s.v. Ariovindus 3, 841.), Schweizerisches Landesmuseum (Zurich) and elsewhere (Lehmann 1990, 162f.). Thus, there can be no certainty to the date of manufacture of this object, even though its identification is quite secure. Date of comparanda: uncertain; first to sixth century. F98. P2/O (350-iOO). Copper alloy plate (SF00999) Exterior dimensions: 7.7 by 5.9 cm. Interior dimensions: 2.5 by 3.2 cm. Thickness: 0.025 cm. Fragmentary and very thin 'L-shaped' plate. This, perhaps, was used as a decoration for a wooden chest. Holes for rivets survive but are hard to distinguish from other piercings that occurred during interment. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 65. P2/B (350). Copper alloy plate applique (SF04054) Preserved length: 3.2 cm. Preserved width: 1.8 cm. Thickness: less than 0.1 cm. This fragmentary copper alloy plate is folded over to form one straight edge. It exhibits stamped ornament in the form of superimposed scallops. Most likely decoration for a wooden box or chest, or, less likely, a leather belt or harness. There is no evidence of rivet holes, though rivets could have been

driven through the interstices of the 'scallops.' Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P2/D (400). 308.

Copper alloy ferrule (SF01114) Preserved length: 2.3 cm. Diameter: 1.3 cm. Thin metal plate folded round on itself to form a cylinder. Most likely used for attaching a wooden handle to some form of implement or for strengthening a small wooden object. No rivet holes evident. Cf. below 309. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 5. P3A/M1B (430-460).

309.

Copper alloy ferrule (SF01660) Width: 0.8 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary in six pieces. A band of copper alloy plate 0.05 cm thick. It is decorated with two zones of punched dot ornament separated from either edge and along the central axis by thin, ca. 1 mm, undecorated borders. Evidently circular in its original state, the two ends overlapped and were fastened together by a rivet driven through the central undecorated band. The presence of this rivet tells against the identification of this object as a bracelet. More likely the band served as a ferrule for binding around a round wooden object of uncertain diameter. Found in the same deposit as the buckle tongue, 104 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain but probably late fourth century. Room 64. P3A/M1A (400-430).

310.

Copper alloy ferrule (SF01154) Length: 5.2 cm. Width: 3.0 cm. Metal plate folded aound on itself and pierced by one rivet. Possibly originally circular, the object was used either as ornament or, still more likely, for strengthening a wooden article such as a chair or table leg. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 69. P3B/D (545).

311.

Copper alloy applique (SF01771) Length: 2.2 cm. Max. width: 1.25 cm. Made from thin (less than 0.1 cm thick) copper alloy plate. Peltate and pierced by three rivet holes. For decoration either on a leather belt or, more likely, on a wooden chest or box. Davidson 1952, No. 539 suggests that a very similar object was used as a copper alloy 'vase foot' (Corinth). Cf. 304 (Period 2). Date of comparanda: uncertain but a motif of long duration. Room 57. P3B/B (460).

312.

Copper alloy attachments (SF01862 a, b, c, d, e) Two sub-circular appliques; small ring, stud, and staple(?). Max. diameter: 1.1 cm (a); 0.9 cm (b); 0.8 cm. (c); 1.1 cm (d). Preserved length: 2.6 cm (e). Max. width: 1.3 cm (e). These objects were found in association with each other and may represent decorative or structurally necessary fixtures for a wooden box or chest. The length of stud (d) is ca. 0.6 cm. Article (e) resembles a modern-day staple. Date of comparanda: uncertain. North of Room 58, Area 103. P3B/F (460-545).

The Small Finds 51 313.

Copper alloy ferrule (SF03472) Max. dimensions: ca. 3.5 by 2.7 cm. Two copper alloy bands less than ca. 0.1 cm thick. Juxtaposed and held together by two clips or staples. Most likely used as a ferrule; though this identification is uncertain. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 78. P3B/M5 (490-535).

314.

Copper alloy binding (SF04055) Preserved length: 5.2 cm. Max. width: ca. 2.0 cm. Max. thickness of metal: ca. 0.1 cm. Thin copper alloy plate, folded in half in the form of a wide semicircle. Pierced by one rivet hole; with intact nail struck through the plate on the opposite side. Function unknown. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

318.

Rotary key (SF04041) Length: 15.4 cm. Max. thickness of shaft: 0.9 cm. Iron. The identification of this object as a key is certain. Given the incomplete nature of the circular and notched bit, however, what particular type of lock the key worked is less clear (perhaps a rotary padlock). The shaft is rectangular in crosssection, with a loop 2.5 cm from the non-working end. The bit is in the shape of a notched disc. The specific type is not represented in Manning 1985, 88-97; Crummy 1983, 124-6; A. Bohme 1978, 189f.; or other authorities cited by this author. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 35. P3B/D (545).

319.

'L-shaped' lift key (?) (SF00089) Preserved length: 5.0 cm. Max. width: 1.5 cm. Max. thickness: 0.4 cm. Iron. The shaft is roughly trapezoidal, subrectangular in cross-section, and pierced by a hole ca. 0.4 cm in diameter. The working end is broken off. Quite rusted. Cf. Manning 1985, 90ff.; A. Bohme 1978, Taf. 32-B 480. Date of comparanda: uncertain but of long duration. TO.

320.

Key (?) (SF00090) Preserved length: ca. 8.7 cm. Max. width: 1.3 cm. Iron. Fragmentary, with working end broken off. Splayed and flattened loop. Quite corroded. The shaft is in the form of a flattened triangle. Identification uncertain; an anonymous reviewer suggests identification as a hook. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

321.

Key (SF01006) Preserved length: 12.8 cm. Max. width: 1.5 cm. Max. thickness: 1.5 cm. Iron. One end is in the form of a hook. The shaft is circular in cross-section and tapers to the hook and, at the other end, a blunt point. Toward the point there are four incised circumlinear lines. Cf. 316 (Period 3B). Cf. 320 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

322.

Lock plate (?) (SF04035) Max. dimensions: 8.8 by 5.5 cm. Max. thickness: 0.5 cm. Iron. Apparently broken in half, with a keyhole (?) pierced through the restored centre of the plate. Dimensions of the hole are ca. 1.2 by 1.0 cm. For possible parallels, see Crummy 1983, No. 2195, 85, Figs. 90, 91; Conimbriga VII, No. 128, PI. 45; Waldbaum 1983, Nos. 381-384, 73, PL 24. Most likely for a wooden box or chest. Date of comparanda: uncertain. South of Room 43, Area 100. P3/M2WT (400-545).

Keys and lock fittings (Fig. 35)

Keys and lock fittings are not uncommon on Roman sites in Europe and the Mediterranean world. They are chiefly made of copper alloy or iron and were used to secure doors and wooden chests. There are several different kinds - nimbler lock slide keys (cf. 315), 'L'-shaped lift keys (cf. 316), and lever lock (rotary) keys (cf. 318). For a discussion of Roman locks and keys, see the authorities cited below. 315.

Tumbler lock slide key (SF01098) Length: 10.5 cm. Thickness of shaft: ca. 1.0 cm. Maximum width of teeth: ca. 3.5 cm. Iron. Possibly for large wooden chest or door. The key is heavily corroded and covered with rust. At one end there is a simple ring; at the other, the bit is 'C-shaped' and has four teeth. Cf. Manning 1985, 92f., Fig. 25-6 (Manning Type 1); Cotton and Metraux 1985, Fig. 25-11, 156 (San Rocco, Francolise, Italy). Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P2/B (350).

316.

'L-shaped' lift key/latch lifter (?) (SF01048) Preserved length: 13.4 cm. Thickness of shaft: ca. 0.6 cm. Iron. Loop end, with lift at right angles to shaft. With tang for attachment to a wooden handle. Cf. Cunliffe 1971, Nos. 25 and 27, Fig. 58 (Fishbourne). Date of comparanda: uncertain. Cistern F723. P3B/D (545).

317.

Key (?) (SF01093) Preserved length: 3.4 cm. Max. width: 0.7 cm. Copper alloy. Fragmentary with working end missing. The opposite end is flattened and pierced by a circular hole ca. 0.5 cm in diameter. The identification of this object as a key is quite uncertain, but cf. examples in iron from Oberstimm (A. Bohme 1978, Taf. 33-B 487, B 492). If a key, it was likely for a wooden chest or some similar article. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/B (460).

Hinges

(Fig. 35)

323.

Hinge (SF01026) Length (extended): 9.6 cm. Length (closed): 4.1 cm. Length of leaf: 3.8 cm. Max. width: 2.6 cm. Copper alloy. Intact. Pivot hinge with trapezoidal leaves. Each leaf is pierced by one hole. Most of the

52 The Small Finds pivot is missing but part of it remains outside the pivot hole. The pivot head is circular and rounded. Possibly for a door; more likely an internal fitting for a wooden chest. The type is fairly standard. For close parallels in iron, see Cunliffe 1971, Nos. 12-16, 128f., Fig. 56 (Fishbourne). Date of comparanda: uncertain. F723. P3B/D (545). 324.

Copper alloy strap hinge (SF03239) Preserved length: ca. 4.8 cm. Max. thickness: ca. 1.7 cm. Only one element of the hinge survives. One end tapers to a point, possibly broken off. The other end is bulbous and bifurcate. Cf. Manning 1984, No. 104-107 for an example in iron. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

328.

Loop-headed spike (SF01249) Length: 8.7 cm. Diameter of loop: 1.4 cm. Max. thickness of shaft: ca. 0.6 cm. Iron, very rusted. Quadrate cross-section. Cf., 326 above, etc. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 59. P3B/D (545).

329.

Loop-headed spike (SF03509) Preserved length: 4.7 cm. Diameter of loop: ca. 2.2 cm. Max. thickness of metal: ca. 1.1 cm. Iron. Much corroded. Fragmentary. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 68. P3B/D (545).

330.

Loop-headed spike (?) (SF03567) Preserved length: 5.2 cm. Diameter of loop: 2.7 cm. Thickness of metal: 0.5 cm. Iron. Very rusted. Tapering to a point but possibly fragmentary. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500).

331.

Loop-headed spike (SF04050) Preserved length: 5.0 cm. Diameter of loop: 0.8 cm. Thickness of metal: 0.4 cm. Lightly corroded. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 35. P3B/D (545).

332.

Loop-headed spike (SF04629) Preserved length: 4.3 cm. Diameter of loop: ? Thickness of metal: ? Quadrate cross-section. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71, 72. P3B/D (545).

333.

Loop-headed spike (SF04702) Preserved length: 4.7 cm. Diameter of loop: ca. 1.2 cm. Iron. Quadrate crosssection. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71, 72. P3B/D (545).

Staples and similar objects

(Figs. 36,37)

Certain other articles described as building material' (notably T-Clamps' and lead pipe) are described by A.M. Small in Volume I, p. 145. The objects in this category of metalwork, whether 'Loop-headed spikes' or 'Split pin/ring staples/ were normally driven into wooden door or window frames - or walls themselves - to serve as means of securing. Thus, animals could be hitched, things hung, and so forth.

Loop-headed spikes 325.

326.

327.

Loop-headed spike (SF01132) Length: 12.5 cm. Max. thickness (below head): 1.0 cm. Iron. Long tapering spike with head bent over itself to form an eye 0.5 cm. wide and 0.8 cm. long. Much rusted but with quadrate section. These fastenings, and the split pin/ring staples that follow, are very common at Roman sites across Europe. They were most likely driven into wood or the interstices of masonry walls. Cf. Manning 1985, R32, 130, PL 59. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 69. P3A/M1A (400-430). Loop-headed spike (SF01057) Length: 7.7 cm. Diameter of loop: ca. 2.5 cm. Max. thickness of shaft: 0.9 cm. Iron. See above, 325. For parallels in Germany and Great Britain, see Manning 1985, R31, 129f., PI. 59. Date of comparanda: uncertain but of long duration. Room 64. P3B/D (545). Loop-headed spike (SF01129) Preserved length: 9.9 cm. Diameter of loop: ca. 2.7 cm. Max. thickness of shaft: ca. 0.8 cm. Iron. Tapers to a point that is broken off. Square in cross-section. Cf. 326 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 69. P3B/D (545).

Split pin/ring staples 334.

Split pin/ring staple (SF00097) Preserved length: 4.3 cm. Diameter of ring: 2.2 cm. Thickness of metal: 0.7 cm. Iron. Square section. Not inherently datable, such iron split pins occur at San Giovanni di Ruoti more commonly in Period 3B. They were used (cf. 338, 342) for attaching fastenings through a separate ring or directly through the ring-element of the staple. The staples were driven into wood or, equally possible, into the mortared interstices of a stone wall. Cf. Goodburn 1974, 80, Fig. 44-44ff.; Manning 1985, R39^16, 130, PI. 61: 'double-spiked' loops. Date of comparanda: uncertain. F98. P2/D (400).

335.

Split pin/ring staple (SF00113) Preserved length: 7.5 cm. Diameter of ring: ca. 2.0 cm. Thickness of metal: ca. 0.5 cm. Heavily corroded. Apparently square in cross-section. Cf. 334 above. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 13. P2/O (350-400).

The Small Finds 53 336.

337.

338.

Split pin/ring staple (SF01754) Length: ca. 8.5 cm. Diameter of loop: ca. 1.7 cm. Thickness of metal: ca. 0.4 cm. Iron. The length of the split pin between the ring and the splayed termini is ca. 2.8 cm. This dimension represents the thickness of the material (most likely a wooden board) through which the staple was driven. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500). Split pin/ring staple (SF01766) Length: ca. 7.0 cm. Diameter of loop: ca. 2.5 cm. Min. thickness of metal: ca. 0.4 cm. Iron. Use similar to examples immediately above. Heavily corroded. Length of shaft before ends (splayed at right angles): ca. 3.0 cm. As with 336 above, this dimension represents the thickness of the material through which the staple was driven. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500). Split pin/ring staple, with attachment ring (SF01770) Length: ca. 7.0 cm. Diameter of loop: ca. 1.0 cm. Diameter of attachment ring: 1.7 cm. Min. thickness of metal: 0.4 cm. Iron. This object, like the two described directly above, was driven into masonry or wood. The termini, however, are not splayed. This suggests that the depth of material to which the object was fixed was greater than 5.5 cm, probably indicating its fixture to masonry. No doubt the fixture was driven into the mortared interstice. The attachment ring is intact. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/D (545).

339.

Split pin/ring staple with attachment ring (SF01778) Length: ca. 5.5 cm. Diameter of loop: ca. 0.4 cm. Diameter of attachment ring: 2.0 cm. Thickness of metal at points: 0.3 cm. Iron. This example, like 338 directly above, does not have splayed termini. Rather the spike termini remain adjacent, though curved toward the end. Again, this suggests that the article was driven into mortared masonry. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/D (545).

340.

Split pin/ring staple (SF01780) Length: ca. 6.7 cm. Diameter of loop: ca. 2.9 cm. Max. thickness of metal: 1.6 cm. Iron. Much corroded. Only the last 1.0 cm. of the double spikes are splayed at right angles to the main shafts. This suggests that the staple was fixed through wood with a depth of about 3.5 cm, possibly a door or plank. Cf., from the same layer, 336 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500).

341.

Interlinked split pin/ring staples (SF03218) Preserved length: 6.7 cm. Diameter of loops: ca. 2.4. cm; 1.5 cm. Thickness of metal: ca. 0.4 cm. Iron. Fragmentary. Interlinking split pin/ring staples, according to Manning 1985, 130, was a simple way of forming a loop hinge 'which could be used where rigidity was unnecessary, as for example with chest lids or vertically

hung shutters.' Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500). 342.

Split pin/ring staple, with attachment ring (SF03219) Preserved length: 8.5 cm. Internal diameter of loop: ca. 0.4 cm. Diameter of ring: 1.4 cm. Thickness of metal: ca. 0.5 cm. Iron. Cf. 339 (Period 3B). The split pin shows no sign of splaying. Thus, the object was likely driven into the mortared insterstice of a wall or a fairly thick wooden object - for example, a doorpost. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

343.

Split pin/ring staple (SF03240) Preserved length: 4.6 cm. Internal diameter of loop: ca. 0.9 cm. Iron. Square in cross-section. Distorted. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

344.

Split pin/ring staple (SF04672) Preserved length: ca. 5.0 cm. Internal diameter of loop: 0.7 cm. Iron. Attachment ring missing. Short stem. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

345.

Staple (SF04781) Preserved length: 5.3 cm. Max. width: 0.8 cm. Max. thickness: 0.3 cm. Iron. Either end is bent over to form a loop. Identification as a staple is not secure. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

Miscellaneous fixtures and fittings (Figs. 37,38)

346.

Iron fittings (SF03241a, b, c) Preserved length: (a) ca. 4.0 cm; (b) ca. 1.75 cm; (c) ca. 1.0 cm. Fragment (a) is a heart-shaped plate with a protrusion at one end, the other end being subrectangular. Fragment (b) is a metal strip pierced by a rivet at one end. Fragment (c) is clearly a stud of some sort. Perhaps these items formed an ensemble and were part of the strengthening or decorative features of a wooden box or chest. Date of comparanda: uncertain. South of Room 43, Area 100. P3/M2S (400-545).

347.

Iron fitting (SF03456) Preserved length: 7.0 cm. Width: 0.5 cm. Max. thickness: 0.4 cm. Iron band bent to form three sides of a rectangle. No apparent rivet holes. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 67. P3B/M6 (490-545).

348.

Socket or ferrule (SF03504) Preserved length: 7.8 cm. Internal diameter: 2.7 cm. Iron. Cylindrical. Most likely for a wooden post; though the object's height precludes its use as a socket for a door hinge. A similar object was found at Zeccone, 10 km north of Pavia. There it was interpreted as a cylindrical receptacle and, indeed, that object held two bronze coins. See Peroni 1967: No. 56 (Tav. 9, p. 104). Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 67. P3B/M6 (490-545).

54 The Small Finds 349.

Metal ring (SF04708) Max. diameter: 1.7 cm. Max. thickness of metal: 0.4 cm. Mineral unrecorded. From description in site records, likely of iron. In two pieces. Use unknown, but most probably a loop attachment of some sort. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 43. P3B/O (460-545).

350.

Lead rivet (SF00144) Max. dimensions: 6.0 by 5.5 cm. An almost circular sherd of pottery sandwiched between two plates of lead. Apparently what remains from repair in antiquity. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 50. P3B/O (460-545).

351.

Lead rivet (SF01729) Max. length: 5.5 cm. Thickness of metal: 0.8 cm. Cast in the form of a right angle. The rivet, like 352 below, was likely used in the repair made to a dolium. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 62. P3B/O (460-545).

356.

Gaming piece (SF00110) Diameter: 1.4 cm. Thickness: ? Glass; black paste. Cf. Crowfoot 1957, 392ff., Fig. 9286/9; Leclerc 1982, No. 134 (p. 78, PI. 9-134.3538). Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 9. (Pl/O 1-220).

352.

Lead rivet (SF01747) Preserved length: 8.0 cm. Max. thickness of metal: 1.2 cm. Lead rivet still attached to a dolium sherd. Undoubtedly used to repair the vessel. Such repairs were very common. Date of comparanda: uncertain. North of Room 58, Area 103. P3B/F (460545).

357.

Gaming piece (SF01782) Diameter: 1.7 cm. Thickness: 0.5 cm. Bone. Circular, with chamfered edge. In the centre of one face there is the mark of a compass point. Cf. 356 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Mill area, A102. PI/I (220 and later).

358. 353.

Lead 'T-shaped' fragment (SF04044) Length: 8.8 cm. Width of T': 4.0 cm. Possibly a seal or clamp of some sort. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71, 72. P3B/RR (500-545).

Gaming piece (SF00100) Diameter: 1.8 cm. Black glass paste. One face is flat; the other is rounded. Cf. 356 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/C (460).

359.

Gaming piece (SF01121) Diameter (at base): ca. 1.0 cm. Height: ca. 1.4 cm. Bone. Ovoid, with compass point placed centrally on base. Cf. 356 above. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Cistern F723. P3B/D (545).

360.

Gaming piece (SF03595) Diameter: 2.0 cm. Bone. Compass point placed centrally on base. Date of comparanda: uncertain. South of Room 43, Area 100. P3/ M2S (400-545).

361.

Gaming piece (SF04745) Dimensions: ? Blue paste. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 71/72. P3B/O (460-545).

362.

Gaming piece (SF10491) Diameter: 1.0 cm. Opaque blue glass. Hemispherical. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 46. P3B/O (460-545).

354.

355.

Lead 'button' (SF01740) Diameter: 2.5 cm. Max. thickness of metal: 1.1 cm. Min. thickness of metal (at rim): 0.2 cm. No discernible decoration. Possibly the remains of a rivet but the identification is quite insecure. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO. Lead rivet (SF01724) Max. length: ca. 7.5 cm. Max. 'height': 5.8 cm. Max. width: 2.9 cm. Max. thickness of metal: 0.2 cm. Lead rivet shaped in the form of a right angle. Application unidentifiable. Not illustrated. Date of comparanda: uncertain. TO.

VIII. ARTICLES ASSOCIATED WITH LEISURE, RELIGIOUS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES Gaming pieces (Fig. 38)

Gaming pieces can be made of pottery, glass, or bone. They were commonly used in the Roman game of 'soldiers' (Indus latrunculorum, latrun-

culi). This was a game played between two opponents on a latticed board marked with 'lines and spaces' (Varro LL 10.22), with two colours of counters. According to Murray 1952, 2.8.4, the last literary references to the popular game within the Empire belong to the late empire (Macrobius Sat. 1.5.11). See also Austin 1935, 25-30; Lamer 1927. Of the seven gaming counters identified at San Giovanni di Ruoti, four are of glass (356,358, 361,362). The others are made of bone.

Flute fragment (Fig. 38)

363.

Flute fragment (SF01500) Preserved length: 10.8 cm. Diameter: 1.0 cm at widest point. Bone. Identification uncertain but probably the finial of a flute made of wood. Carbonized wood fragments were found in one

The Small Finds 55 A significant peculiarity of the San Giovanni di Ruoti example is its two-dimensional appearance. Although modelled in full and thus expected to be viewed from all sides at some time or other, it is really only to be viewed properly either from the front or the back. This feature of the lar accords well with the placement of such deities in wall niches or lararia. Lares were often accompanied in lararia by sculpted representations of animals. Daremberg et al. 1904, loc. cit, refer particularly to pigs and cockerels. The figurine base described directly above, 364, was found in close proximity to the San Giovanni di Ruoti lar, albeit that base was found in a destruction layer and the lar in a floor stratum. It is tempting, nevertheless, to associate this part of the site, the apsidal hall, with the presence of a lararium. It is unlikely that the spread of Christianity across the Roman world would have eliminated the cult of lares, particularly in remote areas. Thus, the discovery of a lar at San Giovanni di Ruoti is no evidence for the religion practised by the contemporary occupants. The figurine yields little evidence for its date of manufacture. The draping of the tunic and general posture reflect canons of modelling for lares in the late Republican and early Imperial eras (cf. the example from Herculaneum mentioned above). It, however, shows little of the classicizing tendencies of the Augustan period. The head is large in relation to the body; and it has an altogether rustic appearance that may have been more due to the skills of the craftsman than to contemporary sculptural canons. The piece is well preserved and so stands out among the minor objects at San Giovanni di Ruoti. The state of preservation, however, is no indication of the antiquity of the object; it may have been treasured. Date of comparanda: uncertain; most likely first to fourth century. Room 58. P3B/F (460-545).

end. Also a copper alloy ferrule surrounded the wider end, presumably for attachment. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 58. P3B/F (460-545).

Metal sculpture (Figs. 38,39) 364.

Figurine base (SF01775) Dimensions: 4.3 by 3.8 cm. Thickness: 0.3 cm. Copper alloy (see also Fig. 54). Heavy rectangular base for figurine. Two threeclawed feet survive, indicating that the most likely representation was that of a bird. Cockerels are a relatively well-known subject for depiction in statuettes and figurines. Cf. Green 1974, 381-3 for a representation of a cockerel in Carrara marble, and the authorities cited there for other examples in Britain and France where the cock is associated with Mercury; also Drury and Wickenden 1982, 241 f. for an example in copper alloy. For the association of such figurines with the lar familiaris, see 365 below. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 62. P3B/D (545).

365.

Lar familiaris (SF01802) Height: 8.7 cm. Cast copper alloy; cire perdue (see also Fig. 55). A lar of a very characteristic type best described by Daremberg et al. 1904, 948 (also earlier authorities cited there). The San Giovanni di Ruoti lar holds a rhyton in his left hand. The rhyton is interchangeable with the cornucopia as a symbol of abundance. The tunic worn by the deity is particularly characteristic of lares. Their representations are described as indncti (Ovid, Fast. 2. 634) and succincti (Persius, Sat. 5.31 [subcinctis: P]). For lares with similarly flared and gathered tunics: Ward Perkins and Claridge 1978, Fig. 213, 190 (from Herculaneum, Mus. Naz. Nap. inv. 5424); La Baume 1964, Fig. 190, 204f. (with rhyton and inlaid silver eyes); a relief sculpture, von Hersberg 1978, 930f. and the references cited there. The stance of the San Giovanni di Ruoti deity is yet another characteristic feature of the god. Cf. Daremberg et al. 1904, fig. 4345, 4349, and 4350; Henderson 1949, 134f. Cruder examples of a similar type of opferner Jungling, found at Orvieto and dating from the first century before Christ and the second/third centuries, are to be found in the Akademisches Kunstmuseum, Bonn: Walberg 1987, 460ff., Abb. 18-21. For a summary review of lares, see also Latte 1960, 90-94. The lares were originally Etruscan divinities particularly associated with crossroads. Lar worship was reformed by Augustus, after which the popularity of the charm was increased. The characteristic rhyton or cornucopia symbolizes the essential nature of the lar as a deity related to fertility. Cf. the descriptions by Tibullus 1.3.34; 7.58, of the god as a large wooden object - undoubtedly a priapic relation - in rustic settings. For the cult of lares in Spain, Germany, and the Gauls, see Latte 1960, 93f., n. 2.

366.

Copper alloy decorated nail (SF01797) Preserved length: 5.8 cm. Diameter of head: 1.4 cm. Max. width of shaft (directly below head): 0.8 cm. The shaft tapers almost to a point 0.3 cm across. Each facet, and the flattened head, is decorated: one facet bears incised chevron ornament, another bears simple punched marks. One other shows crude cross-hatching; and the other is deeply incised with a vertical linear groove. The head bears incised linear ornament, most probably carved after the head was hammered. While it is suggested that the object was at one point hammered, it displays no curve, which might suggest that it was drawn and decorated after a primary use. It is similar to three examples of magical nails in the British Museum (GR 1873.8-20.147). There it is claimed that such nails were driven into doorposts. As such, they would have constituted good-luck charms or had some apotropaic function. The style of decoration suggests a relatively late date. This is similar to a type of hairpin in northwestern Europe discussed by H.W. Bohme 1974,35-40. These pins are decorated for a third to one-half of their length (25.0 cm long) with incised

56 The Small Finds ornament (cf. H.W. Bohme 1974, Taf. 58-8 [Dalfsen]). Such pins date, according to H.W. Bohme (155), between ca. 380 and ca. 450. The object also resembles a class of material found in the territory of Pavia and belonging to the very late Empire or the post-Roman period of occupation. This material, decorated pins, perhaps belongs to brooches (cf. Peroni 1967, Nos. 11 and 42 [Tav. 2 and 6; pp. 83 and 96]) and certainly bears similar decoration and is probably of a like age. Date of comparanda: uncertain; most likely very late fourth/ mid-sixth century. Room 31. P3B/M4 (460-500).

Terracotta objects (Fig. 39)

367.

Terracotta snake head (SF01109) Length of head: 3.7 cm. Maximum width of head: 1.9 cm. Maximum thickness: 1.7 cm. Surface fabric is a beige/orange; interior is grey. The snake head is well modelled, with surface decoration of impressed circles and prolusions. The remains of the neck are at an oblique angle to the head. The purpose of the object is unknown, perhaps the fragment of a handle (?). Snake heads as ornament are well documented as the termini for penannular bracelets in the third and fourth centuries. Cf. Guiraud 1989, Fig. 41-c, 195. Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 13. P2/D (400).

368.

Terracotta mould (SF04014) Preserved length: 8.5 cm. Preserved width: 5.7 cm. Maximum thickness: 1.7 cm. Fragmentary. Light orange fabric. The external profile of the mould exhibits a smooth ogee curve. The surviving edge is in form of a rectangular 'rim.' It is hard to discern what was to be formed in the mould. There is no evidence of holes for the infusion of molten metal, and it is more likely that the 'figure' produced would itself have been made of terracotta. No fragment of such a figure has been found at San Giovanni di Ruoti, nor has any part of the site been identified as a ritual area where votive figures may have been deposited. The presence of a single fragment from a mould is insufficient reason to propose a 'local industry.' Date of comparanda: uncertain. Room 19. P2/D (400).

Amulet

(Figs. 39, 56)

369.

Amulet (SF00992) Preserved length: 2.6 cm. Max. width: ca. 0.5 cm. Silver and gold. A small hexagonal tube of silver, open at one end containing a golden leaf or lamella (Grk. TreraXov) tightly rolled. One end of the object appears to have been slightly damaged, while the other was intact at the time of excavation. A small cylindrical attachment of silver, separated from the sheath, provided means for suspension of the object, presumably around a person's neck. The object has

been conserved by the Cooperativa Restauratori Archeologici (Co.Re.Ar.), Rome (Appendix 1). The gold lamella was unfurled to as great an extent as possible by the conservators. It measures 6.8 by 2.7 cm. There are several impressed characters on the lamella. Photographs of the capsule and lamella were inspected by R.S.O. Tomlin (Figs. 39, 56). According to him, 'most of the letters are understandable as fifth century Latin.' Dr Tomlin, however, did not rule out the possibility that the characters represent Greek letters. His drawing from a transparency accompanies this entry. A possible Latin transcription of the characters is: 1. .ZW (or M upside down) OCO(?) .L(?) 2. ZIA.C.TO It is probable that the lamella was engraved with essentially illegible, magical characters (xapaKTfjps