Dalginross

NN 782 217 Metal detecting in the vicinity of Dalginross Roman fort by Mr. T Anderson recovered several items of postmedieval metalwork and three certain and one possible items of Roman metalwork. The latter were claimed as treasure trove and allocated to Perth Museum and Art Gallery. They comprise a cavalry harness junction (phalera), the head of a projecting ring-headed pin, a lead weight and a boss fitting. The only closely

datable item is the cavalry phalera, which is Flavian. Fraser Hunter has provided the following identifications:

Phalera Disc-shaped strap junction with the tangs of two broken vertical loops on the rear; attempts were made to repair the damage, with a dish-shaped washer fitted to one, giving a strap thickness of c3mm. At the lower edge of the phalera are two hoops for a lost pendant. The detail of the front is obscured by mud and corrosion, but there is a central perforation for a decorative fitting (dished slightly from damage), with concentric decoration comprising a channel some 12mm from the edge, and two incised lines and a raised ridge 4mm from the edge. D: 38mm, T: 8mm.

This is a typical piece of cavalry harness of the later 1st century AD. It would serve to fasten two straps together, but also had a decorative role, with a decorative emblem riveted to its centre and a pendant hanging from the loops.

Boss Hemispherical boss with a collar at the base, and the stub of a central attachment tang on the flat base. Damaged, with much of one side lost. While not diagnostic, this could easily be a Roman decorative fitting or finial. D: 15mm, H: 12mm, tang D: 3.5mm.

Pin head The head of a projecting ring-headed pin, with most of the shank lost. The circular-sectioned oval head is decorated with four transverse lentoid bosses set at the cardinal points round the circumference. The surface is pitted with corrosion and all the bosses are damaged. L: 24.5mm, pin D: 3.5mm, head: 23 x 21.5mm.

Projecting ring-headed pins are a local Iron Age type, but they are found on Roman sites, perhaps from trade, adoption of local styles by the army, or recruitment of local people into the army. This particular style is extremely unusual; only one other example is known to the writer, from Birnie (Moray).

Weight Biconical lead weight, rather damaged and pitted with corrosion. One face has three punched conical dots set in a T-formation; these would indicate the weight to the user (each dot representing an ounce), but it is likely that two are lost, since the recorded mass of 135.9g is substantially more than three ounces (81.9g). Although damaged, it is more likely to be a 5 unciae weight (136.4g) than 6 unciae (162.8g), as this is normally inscribed ‘S’ for semis, half a Roman pound. The dots would presumably originally form a quincunx shape, a narrow rectangle with a central dot. D: 34mm (face D: 26.5mm), H: 21mm.