Listed below are the fields used to record figurines originally recorded on an Access database. The values used in the various fields are given and explained where necessary. A screenshot sample record (PDF) from the Access database is also provided. For the purposes of this publication, the data set has been made available for query online.
ID | Unique Figurine ID number |
Grid reference | 4 figure grid refenence |
Project type | Chance, Metal detector, Field walking, Excavation, Unknown. |
County | Current name of county. |
County previously | Used if the current county name differs from the one under which the object was published. |
Site | Area location, usually a town or parish. |
Site name | Specific site location (e.g. village, farm, street address) or published name. |
Site type | Colonia, Civitas capital, London, Small town, Villa, Rural, Military, Religious, Unknown. |
Location type | General location type within the site, such as building or road. |
Context | Specific context, such as pit or layer. |
Context quality |
0 – only the general location (perhaps a two or four figure grid reference) of the find is known, used for metal-detector and chance finds, or for finds of uncertain provenance 1 – location known for metal-detector, field walking and chance finds (six figure grid reference or better) 2 – excavated find from a poor context such as ploughsoil 3 – excavated find from a known, sealed context. |
Site date | Approximate date range of occupation at the site |
Context date | Date given to the context in which the figurine was found |
Object date | Approximate date of production of the figurine |
Object period | -1 is used for the Iron Age, otherwise the number equals the latest century for the figurine. Thus a figurine dated to the 1st or 2nd century AD would have a value of 2. A value of 9 was assigned to figures pre-dating the Roman period that were probably recently imported and a value of 10 to figurines of post-medieval date. |
Material | Bronze, Iron, Lead, Silver, Gold. |
Secondary material | Attributes or decoration of different material such as silvering, gilding, enamel or glass insets. |
Other finds | Any finds found specifically with the figurine, particularly other figurines or objects such as coins that might be used to date the context. |
Import | Is the figurine thought to be imported from the Continent - Yes/No |
Place of manufacture | Suggested country of manufacture |
Location | Current location if known, e.g. museum, private hands. |
Reference Number | Museum accession number, PAS database number, or Heritage Environment Record number. |
Male/female | Male or female figurine (or displaying qualities of) |
Age | Child, Youth, Mature, Elderly |
Form | Figurine, Bust, Votive (objects such as caducei), Attachment, Head, Fragment (if it is not certain whether the piece is from a figurine). |
Type | Deity, Human, Composite (e.g. horse and rider), Animal, Bird, Other, Unknown. |
Name | Specific name of deity, bird or animal. |
Aliases | When a figurine has been published under more than one name. |
Bearded | Yes, No |
Standing | Standing, Seated, Reclining. |
Headgear | Helmet, petasos, diadem, wreath, veil etc. |
Other | Torc or other jewellery. |
Attributes | Yes, No, Missing. |
Attribute description | List of attributes of the figurine including physical (e.g. head wings) and objects (e.g. spear, shield, patera, purse) |
Is an attribute of | If an object, bird or animal is associated with a particular deity (e.g. caducei, cockerels and rams are associated with Mercury). |
Clothed | Yes, No. |
Clothing description | Description of the clothing worn by the figurine |
Drapery | Yes, No. |
Drapery description | Description of the drapery on the figurine |
Classical | Yes, No. |
Quality |
Classical 1 – highly classical in style, generally thought to be imported. Classical 2 – a similarly classical piece which might or might not be imported. Classical 3 – a well-executed piece but without the finish of the high-quality pieces. The proportions might not be correct, or the details somewhat clumsily rendered. Stylised 1 – these pieces often have crude facial features, slightly stylised drapery, 'mitten' hands and feet in which no details of fingers or toes are depicted, and inaccurate proportions such as overly large shoulders or hands, small heads and feet. Bent limbs are often too small or attenuated in comparison with a straight limb. Stylised 2 – stylised pieces in which many of the animals are depicted in a La Tène style with long, thin bodies. Human figures are often not recognisable classical deities. Stylised 3 – somewhat stylised pieces, but with a particular naïve style that may be Romano-British. |
Photograph | Yes, No. |
Illustration | Yes, No. |
Height | in millimetres. |
Length | in millimetres. |
Prototype | If the figure is based on a classical statue produced by a sculptor such as Praxiteles the prototype and sculptor are given. |
Parallels | British and Continental parallels, with ID number if the parallel is also recorded on the database. |
References | Published and unpublished references. |
Description | General description of the figurine by author and/or other references |
PAS id | PAS database number with link to relevant entry in PAS database. |
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