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.
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The artefacts described below are displayed at Melton Carnegie Museum on Thorpe End in Melton Mowbray.
Spoon bowl
c. AD 43 to 409
This everyday object was found by a metal detectorist at the site of the Roman town.
Spoon bowl
c. AD 43 to 409
This everyday object was found by a metal detectorist at the site of the Roman town.
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.
Gold Medusa pendant
c. AD 42 to 350
Medusa was the snake-haired monster from Greek mythology. She was beheaded by the hero Perseus who used her head as a weapon. Therefore, her image was often used on charms against the evil eye.
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.
Circular plate brooch
c. AD 43 to 409
Decorated with enamel.
Oval plate brooch
c. AD 43 to 409
Gilded with a piece of green glass set into the centre.
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.
Bird-shaped plate brooch
c. AD 43 to 200
With enamel and silver decoration.
Miniature axe model
c. AD 43 to 409
These tiny axes are often referred to as ‘votive’ meaning that they were sacred objects, possibly left as a ritual offering for the gods. However, this is debated with some archaeologists believing they were symbols of authority.
Circular plate brooch
c. AD 43 to 409
Decorated with enamel.
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.
Bow brooch
c. 43 to 409
This type of brooch is also known as a dolphin brooch due to its characteristic shape.
Headstud brooch
c. AD 43 to 409
This distinctive brooch has been tinned or silvered to make it shine.
Knee brooch
c. AD 43 to 409
Brooch.
Aesica fantail brooch
c. AD 43 to 150
This distinctive brooch has been tinned or silvered to make parts of the design shine. Aesica was the Roman name for a fort at Great Chesters on Hadrian’s Wall where this type of brooch was found.
Fantail brooch
c. AD 43 to 150
Brooch.
Bow brooch
c. AD 43 to 409
Also known as a dolphin brooch due to its characteristic shape.
Military style buckle
c. AD 43 to 409
Roman copper alloy, military-style belt buckle with integral openwork plate.
Finger ring
c. AD 43 to 409
Whatever was once set into the bezel of this ring is now missing.
Signet ring
c. AD 43 to 409
Finger ring with key
c. AD 43 to 409
This ring has a handy built-in key.
Terret
c. AD 43 to 409
A terret is a metal loop on a horse harness designed to guide the reins. It could also be attached to a chariot for the same purpose.
Handles
c. AD 43 to 409
These handles could have come from pieces of furniture or boxes.
Glass vessel base
c. AD 43 to 409
Glass vessels were popular during the Roman period and were often this blue/green colour.
Finger ring
c. AD 43 to 409
Finger ring.
Bone hairpin
c. AD 43 to 409
Roman women often had elaborate hairstyles that required pins to keep them in place.
Nail cleaner
c. AD 43 to 409
These may have been part of a toilet set suspended on a loop with a pair of tweezers and earwax scoop.
Lead dice
c. AD 43 to 409
Dice games were very popular during the Roman period and often involved gambling. It became a social problem so the government attempted to restrict it.
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.
Iron spearhead
c. AD 43 to 409
Spearhead.
Iron knife blade
c. AD 43 to 409
This is the classic shape of a Roman knife with a straight back and curved blade.
Iron hammer head
c. AD 43 to 409
Hammer head.
Samian ware pottery sherds
c. AD 43 to 409
Samian ware was used as a fine tableware in a fairly well-off household. It is often decorated with human and animal figures as in this example..
Samian ware pottery sherds
c. AD 43 to 409
Samian ware was used as a fine tableware in a fairly well-off household. Each of these vessels was repaired with a piece of bronze during its lifetime.
Nene Valley colour-coated pottery cup
c. AD 150 to 400
This is a type of fine table-ware which often features painted and applied decoration. It was produced on a huge-scale in the Nene Valley near Peterborough and exported all over Roman Britain.
Samian ware pottery base sherd
c. AD 43 to 409
Samian ware was used as a fine tableware in a fairly well-off household. Sometimes they were stamped with the maker’s name as in this example.
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.
Grey ware pottery base
c. AD 43 to 409
Grey ware pots were for everyday use and were made locally around the country. Grey ware sherds account for around 80% of Roman pottery found at British sites.
Shelly ware pottery rim
c. AD 43 to 300
Shelly ware was an everyday type of pottery, usually used for large vessels.
Grey ware pottery rim
c. AD 120 to 250
This pottery sherd shows a burnished lattice pattern. Grey ware pots were for everyday use and were made locally around the country. Grey ware sherds account for around 80% of Roman pottery found at British sites.
Grey ware pottery rim
c. AD 43 to 409
Grey ware pots were for everyday use and were made locally around the country. Grey ware sherds account for around 80% of Roman pottery found at British sites.
Grey ware pottery rim
c. AD 120 to 250
This pottery sherd shows a burnished lattice pattern. Grey ware pots were for everyday use and were made locally around the country. Grey ware sherds account for around 80% of Roman pottery found at British sites.
Grey ware pottery sherd
c. AD 50 to 120
This pottery sherd shows the remains of ‘rustication’ – raised ridges on the surface. Grey ware pots were for everyday use and were made locally around the country. Grey ware sherds account for around 80% of Roman pottery found at British sites.
Orange pottery rim
c. AD 43 to 409
Pottery rim.
Shelley ware pottery rim
c. AD 43 to 300
Shelly ware was an everyday type of pottery, usually used for large vessels.
White ware pottery rim and handle
c. AD 50 to 220
This sherd is from a ring neck flagon.
White ware pottery rim
c. AD 43 to 409
Pottery rim.
Grey ware pottery rim
c. AD 43 to 409
Grey ware pots were for everyday use and were made locally around the country. Grey ware sherds account for around 80% of Roman pottery found at British sites.
Images and descriptions courtesy of Melton Carnegie Museum