Roman Finds at Goadby Marwood
There have been a large number of Roman artefacts discovered in and around Goadby over the last 100 years. Many of the finds were unearthed during ironstone quarrying activities in the mid-20th Century while others relate to the excavations carried out at the Roman villa overlooking the village. Metal detectorists regularly visit the fields surrounding the village and their activities have resulted in a number of interesting finds.
The artefacts described below are displayed at Melton Carnegie Museum on Thorpe End in Melton Mowbray.
Spoon with inscription
c. AD 350 to 425
This spoon has two bird-like creatures where the handle joins the spoon and the bowl is inscribed on its upper surface, down its centre with the name TEGERNEMA […]. This name has Celtic elements which mean ‘king’ or ‘lord’. Dr Roger Tomlin of Oxford University has examined the spoon and believes that since the lettering is a little irregular and would have been upside-down when the spoon was being used, it was probably inscribed by the owner himself, holding the spoon in his left hand, rather than professionally in a workshop.
Coin hoard
c. AD 200 to 300
This is a large hoard of 1725 coins that was buried in the lower half of a grey ware jar. It contains bronze coins issued by the emperors Tetricus I, Claudius II, Gallienus and Victorinus. They are known as ‘radiate’ coins as the emperors wear a spiky crown symbolising the rays of the sun, an association with the cult of Sol Invictus. The coins are of the denomination antoninianus which were a debased type of coin popularly known not to be worth as much as their face value and therefore a cause of inflation.
Bracelets
c. AD 250 to 409
The two more complete bracelets are made from twisted wire and one still retains its delicate hook and eye clasp. Metal bracelets such as these were fairly high-status items.
Mercury figurine
c. AD 43 to 409
Figurine of the god Mercury with winged helmet and boots, winged staff (‘caduceus’), cape and flask. Mercury was the Roman god of shopkeepers, merchants, travellers, communication, thieves and tricksters.
Enamelled chatelaine brooch
c. AD 43 to 409
This enamelled copper alloy brooch still has traces of the delicate safety chain on the rear. Chatelaine brooches were used to suspend toilet or cosmetic implements such as tweezers, nail cleaners and ear scoops. They were probably more symbolic of status and personal hygiene than practical items for use. Unfortunately, they are missing on this example.
Signet ring
c. AD 43 to 409
Handles
c. AD 43 to 409
These handles could have come from pieces of furniture or boxes.
Lead and iron steelyard weights
c. AD 43 to 409
These weights would have been used with a steelyard – a beam balance with arms of unequal length that incorporates a counterweight which slides along the longer arm to counterbalance the load and indicate its weight. During the Roman period weights were most commonly bi-conical like these examples.
Mortaria pottery rim
c. AD 200 to 400
Mortaria were used for mixing, grinding and pulping food. The Mancetter / Harsthill type were manufactured on a huge scale on the Warwickshire / Leicestershire border. Examples produced in the Nene Valley near Peterborough are also often found in the East Midlands.
Images and descriptions courtesy of Melton Carnegie Museum