File:Roman bracelet fragment (plan) (FindID 184164).jpg

Description of Object

A broken and distorted component of Roman gold jewellery, probably a necklace link.

The fragment comprises a parallel-sided band, made from thin gold sheet, fractured at one end and with a double-eyed fastening loop at the complete end. Following breakage the fragment was bent back on itself, first the looped end then the broken end, the latter resulting in a partial tear. Denting of one rim may have occurred concurrently or subsequent to the ancient damage.

The band has a front (outer) face and a back (inner) face. The latter displays working marks but no finishing marks and was evidently not intended to be seen. The front face is ornamented with a restrained and finely applied décor: ribbed and channelled mouldings divide the band into two equal panels each occupied by a plain zone balanced by a line of five embossed ring-and-dot mouldings (at the fractured end breakage occurs across the edge of the fifth example). Soldered to the complete end is a lyre-shaped twin loop of filigree wire.

Dimensions: Width 12 mm. Length ('unrolled') c. 30 mm. Predicted original length c. 41mm. Weight: 3g

Discussion

The function of this object, while almost certainly part of a piece of jewellery, cannot be unequivocally identified. However, assuming a symmetrical design, it seems probable that the band was broken just short of its end which would have terminated with a second soldered lyre-shaped fastening loop (or possibly a double hook). As such it can be conceived as one link from a necklace or bracelet.