A larger group of 36 lead figurines has been recovered. As metallurgical analysis was not conducted on these figurines, it is not known whether they contained any tin, but visual inspection and their weight indicates that lead is the primary constituent. The poor condition, stylisation, and lack of attributes of many of the figures make their identification difficult. One might suggest that the poor or rather odd depictions are indicative of lead being chosen as an inferior metal for the production of figurines; however, there are several more accomplished and detailed examples such as Diana 682 from Carlisle. A range of types are represented in lead including Hercules 651, Harpocrates 1102, Mars 884, Mercury 1077, Boar 979, Fish 893, Ram 951, and Snake 952 as well as possible Fortunas 246 and 949, Mother Goddesses 234 and 778, African males 837 and 838, and Eagles 731, 917, and 1074. There are also four examples of stylised Priapic figures (574, 849, 1016 and 1097) and Phallus 1002 from Colchester. Finally there are two examples of figurines in aediculae, or small shrines: Minerva 642 from Dorchester, Dorset and Venus 686 from Wroxeter, Shropshire. Two crude figures of Fortuna (1166 and 1167) with a rather flat profile from Springhead, Kent, are similar to the aediculae figurines (Schuster, forthcoming). These small lead shrines are also found in Gaul (Chew 1990/1991), and, apart from the figures in low relief already mentioned, some do not contain a three-dimensional figure but are simply sheets of lead that have been pressed into a mould. Examples of this type have been found at Wallsend (Allason-Jones 1984), and buried in the arena floor at the eastern entrance to the amphitheatre in London (Wardle 2008, 194 and 199).
In addition there is one possible pewter figurine, Victory 404 from Wroxeter. Unfortunately, this piece was not located so it was not possible to verify whether it is in fact made of pewter. The illustration (Bushe-Fox 1913, fig. 10 no. 17) shows a winged figure wearing a full-length gown.
© Internet Archaeology/Author(s)
University of York legal statements | Terms and Conditions
| File last updated: Tue Mar 20 2012