https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/templates/general_wide/img/logo.png https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age.html https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/ring-59015.html Mon, 17 Nov 2025 13:33:39 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A large undecorated ring, most likely dating to the Iron Age or Roman period. The ring is toroidal in shape, with a smooth and pale surface patination consistent with age. Evidence of wear and abrasion to one side has exposed a darker brown core. The cross-sectional thickness, wear and overall size would suggest employment with harness related fittings or similar. A comparable example displaying additional corroded iron products is recorded as ESS-4C0E87. Note also; NLM-F5C2FC, as well as contextual comments below for dating purposes.
Category:		Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/triskele-fob-or-dangler-58916.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 13:03:59 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A cast copper-alloy 'fob' or 'dangler' of the late Iron Age to early Roman period. The object has been cast in separate pieces, including a zoomorphic body and a circular loop for suspension. The body is moulded in the form of three long-billed, swan-like bird-heads, conjoined centrally at the necks and symmetrically arranged as an openwork triskele. The birds' eyes are bead-like and very prominent, and they also appear to have been separately cast and fitted to the heads. The loop has a radial shank, which is fitted into the centre of the body and riveted to secure it. The shank has a small ornamental collar below the loop, and it will be shouldered where it enters the body in order to prevent axial movement. The exact function of these objects is uncertain but they may have been used for decoration on horse harness or for personal adornment. See also UKDFD 40498 and PAS NARC-7584E7.
Category:		Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/cosmetic-grinders/cosmetic-grinder-58912.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 13:15:55 GMT Cosmetic grinders  

Description:		The lower element, or mortar, of a two-part cosmetic ('woad') grinder of the late Iron Age to early Roman period. It is boat-shaped with a degenerate bull-head finial at one end.  The finder recorded an upper element (pestle) of compatible size and from the same field in 2014 (UKDFD 46899). The two parts are possibly from the same grinder and are shown fitted together in Image 3. The ancient Britons cultivated woad (a biennial herb, Isatis Tinctoria) for its blue dye. The dye, which they used to paint their bodies, was obtained by grinding parts of the plant between a mortar and pestle.
Category:		Iron Age, Cosmetic grinders
Category:		Cosmetic grinders

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/brooches/la-tene-iii-brooch-58825.html Wed, 03 Sep 2025 08:41:47 GMT Brooches  

Description:		An incomplete late Iron-Age brooch of La Tène III type. The brooch has an undecorated bow of flat sub-rectangular cross-section that narrows at the foot end and terminates in a solid catch-plate. The bilateral spring that would have formed the head of the brooch is now missing, along with its integral pin. The La Tène III brooch is a derivative of the Nauheim type, which evolved on continental Europe around the beginning of the 1st century BC and was brought to Britain by the Belgae. The present brooch retains the outwardly curved foot that is a characteristic of the Nauheim type.
Category:		Iron Age, Brooches
Category:		Brooches

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/brooches/la-tene-iii-brooch-58700.html Mon, 14 Jul 2025 19:39:21 GMT Brooches  

Description:		An incomplete late Iron-Age brooch of La Tène III type. The bow is undecorated, circular in section, and arched in profile; it tapers towards the pointed foot. A fragment of the integral bilateral spring mechanism survives, as does the sub-rectangular catchplate with curved return. The La Tène III brooch is a derivative of the continental Nauheim type. It evolved on the continent around the beginning of the 1st century BC, and was brought to Britain by the Belgae.
Category:		Iron Age, Brooches
Category:		Brooches

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/brooches/la-tene-iii-brooch-58683.html Sat, 05 Jul 2025 16:51:55 GMT Brooches  

Description:		A late Iron-Age brooch of La Tène III type. The bow is flat, rectangular in section, the outer edges are slightly upturned, it tapers to a pointed foot, the tip of which is missing. The coil and pin are both present, and a fragment of the triangular perforated catchplate survives. The La Tène III brooch is a derivative of the continental Nauheim type. It evolved on the continent around the beginning of the 1st century BC and was brought to Britain by the Belgae.
Category:		Iron Age, Brooches
Category:		Brooches

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/brooches/colchester-one-piece-brooch-58459.html Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:20:58 GMT Brooches  

Description:		An incomplete and undecorated Colchester one-piece brooch of the late Iron Age to early Roman period. It has an arched circular-section bow and short wings. A remnant of the forward-facing chord hook and a stub of the spring pin wire survive at the head of the bow. The remains of a catchplate are visible at the lower end of the bow which terminates with a sharp pointed (possibly damaged) foot.
Category:		Iron Age, Brooches
Category:		Brooches

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/brooches/colchester-one-piece-brooch-58450.html Thu, 13 Feb 2025 15:04:36 GMT Brooches  

Description:		A plain one-piece Colchester-type brooch of the late Iron Age to early Roman period. It has short flat wings and a curved tapering bow. Half of the bi-lateral spring and a vestige of the forward-facing chord hook survive. The pin and catchplate are both missing.
Category:		Iron Age, Brooches
Category:		Brooches

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/strap-fitting-58048.html Sat, 15 Jun 2024 18:43:35 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		An unusual artefact, probably an incomplete looped harness fitting dating to the late Iron Age. The body of the object is generally lenticular, with two incomplete sub-rectangular stubs located at each end on the reverse. The remaining short stubs were likely once joined together forming an integral bar. The face is decorated with multiple projecting knobs of irregular sizes arranged in three longitudinal rows; one following a central line and one along each side, with each terminal end narrowing into a cluster of three knobs. The body is U-shaped, and somewhat distorted and split at one end. No comparable artefact has been traced to date. It can be noted, however, that the design element of prominent projecting knobs in singular or clustered form were used to embellish Iron Age objects such as; UKDFD 57051, and the artefact could indeed be a very unusual form of terret. More likely though, the fitting is a form of equine related strap loop for securing harness.
Category:		Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/torc-fragment-58033.html Mon, 03 Jun 2024 11:03:55 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A fragment of beaded cooper-alloy torc dating from the late Iron Age to early Roman period. The fragment consists of four beads, each disc-shaped with ribbed spool moulding between. One end of the fragment displays a fracture, and at the other end is the remains of a hollow terminal socket.  The torc would likely be of a two-piece type, with a decorative beaded throat element complete with socketed ends, and a curved neck bar that would have plugged into the sockets to complete the loop (the socketed ends allowing removal of the torc by the wearer). See also; SWYOR-E0B0B4, DENO-B0A936, SWYOR-D224682 & WREX-83568A as similar period examples.
Category:		Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

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