https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/templates/general_wide/img/logo.png https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/cosmetic-grinders.html 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/cosmetic-grinders/cosmetic-grinder-56060.html Mon, 03 May 2021 16:06:50 GMT Cosmetic grinders  

Description:		The upper element, or pestle, of a two-part cosmetic (woad) grinder of the late Iron Age to early Roman period. It is crescent-shaped with a central suspension loop. The pestle would have been utilised with a mortar element, such as UKDFD 25585. 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/cosmetic-grinders/cosmetic-grinder-28984.html Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Cosmetic grinders  

Description:		The base element, or mortar, of a two-part cosmetic grinder (so-called 'woad grinder') of the late Iron Age to early Roman period. It is a shallow boat-shape, with one end extended and turned back on the underside to form a swan-necked suspension loop.
Category:		Iron Age, Cosmetic grinders
Category:		Cosmetic grinders

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/cosmetic-grinders/cosmetic-grinder-333.html Fri, 19 Aug 2005 00:00:00 GMT Cosmetic grinders  

Description:		Cast copper alloy cosmetic grinder (also known as woad grinder) of late Iron Age to early Roman date - 1stC BC - mid 1stC AD. Length is 80mm x 12mm wide and 6mm high (middle). The loop measures 14mm long, 8mm wide. On the upper edge of the mortar is the grinding area, this measures 52mm long, 9mm wide, and is 5mm deep. The whole grinder is covered in a dark green patina. These objects are essentially Celtic in form. During the Celtic period in Britain, a biennial herb "Isatis Tinctoria" was cultivated for the blue dye that could be obtained from it by crushing. The plant is more commonly known as woad. The ancient Britons painted their bodies with the dye which was obtained by grinding parts of the plant between a pestle (missing here) and the mortar.
Category:		Iron Age, Cosmetic grinders
Category:		Cosmetic grinders

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/iron-age/cosmetic-grinders/cosmetic-grinder-5181.html Sun, 19 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT Cosmetic grinders  

Description:		The base element, or mortar, of a two-part cosmetic (woad) grinder of the late Iron Age to early Roman period. The suspension loop is broken. 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/cosmetic-grinders/cosmetic-grinder-6671.html Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT Cosmetic grinders  

Description:		The upper element, or pestle, of a two-part cosmetic (woad) grinder of the late Iron Age to early Roman period. It is crescent-shaped, with a central (incomplete) suspension loop. 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/cosmetic-grinders/cosmetic-grinder-7348.html Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT Cosmetic grinders  

Description:		The base element, or mortar, of a two-part cosmetic (woad) grinder of the late Iron Age to early Roman period. It is crescent-shaped with a central suspension loop on the underside. 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/cosmetic-grinders/cosmetic-grinder-8264.html Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT Cosmetic grinders  

Description:		The upper element, or pestle, of a two-part cosmetic (woad) grinder of the late Iron Age to early Roman period. It is crescent-shaped, with a central suspension loop. 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/cosmetic-grinders/cosmetic-grinder-10180.html Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT Cosmetic grinders  

Description:		The upper element, or pestle, of a two-part cosmetic (woad) grinder of the late Iron Age to early Roman period. It is crescent-shaped, with a central (incomplete) suspension loop. 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/cosmetic-grinders/cosmetic-grinder-11301.html Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Cosmetic grinders  

Description:		The boat-shaped base element, or mortar, of a two-part cosmetic (woad) grinder of the late Iron Age to early Roman period. 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

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