*These have detailed descriptions below.

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Fig. 8. Roman Canterbury. A selection of finds from central Canterbury

Pottery
The Romans were masters of mass-produced pottery, both moulded and wheel turned.

Painted wall plaster
Fragment of painted plaster from a decorated internal wall of a Roman house. The piece shows the dancing feet of a female figure in a swirling dress. Other pieces found show that the top of the wall was decorated with yellow chains and blue flowers.

Carpenter's square
This precision tool was used by a joiner or furniture maker to mark out wood before cutting and for testing the accuracy of angles of joints during construction. It was made from sheet bronze and cut to the shape of an isosceles triangle (with a central piece cut out). A straight 'arm' projects from one corner, forming on one side a right-angled triangle with the hypotenuse and on the other, an angle of 45 degrees with the base line. There is a perforation at the decorated end so the tool could be hung up when not in use. A base plate allows the square to stand on a flat surface. The incised inscription of G CV VALENO indicates the name of the owner, a Roman citizen. A rare find.

Medical instrument
Known as a scoop-probe, this physician's tool had two functions. The long, dished end cleaned out ears and the short rounded end was used when examining various parts of the body. Made from a copper alloy.

Brooch
Beautiful example of a brooch made from a copper alloy with white metal (possibly silver) inlay in a wave scroll design.

Hair or clothes pin
Pin carved from jet. In York, archaeologists found the hair of a Roman woman with jet pins holding the style in place.

Pins from a pin maker's workshop
A group of many unfinished and finished bone pins and waste material was found in the area of the Public Baths. They indicate the presence of a workshop. The raw material used was bone from the lower legs of cattle, recycled after butchery by the craftsman. There was a good supply of the material and it could be easily worked. Few tools were needed to make pins, probably only a chisel or axe and whittling knife. A lathe was rarely used. The pin to the left in Fig. 8 is unfinished (the shaft needs more work) while the one to the right is finished.

Finger ring
A copper alloy ring with glass setting. On the shoulders of the ring are two stylised dolphins. A rare find.

Fig. 13. Anglo-Saxon Canterbury. A selection of finds from central Canterbury.

Pottery
Hand-made cooking pot or jar with 'chaff' tempering. Dark grey. Hand-made jar made with sand-temper and decorated with bands of grooves. Dark grey.

Brooch
Made in a copper alloy. Note the 'ring and dot' decoration again. Pin missing.

Hair or clothes pins
All 3 were made by casting in a copper alloy. Notice the 'ring and dot' design like the comb. Copper alloy objects turn from a bronze colour to a greenish-brown in most conditions over time.

Strap or belt tag
These were quite commonly used. Two sheets of the copper alloy tag were rivetted together to enclose and secure the end of a fabric belt or strap and prevented fraying.

Whetstone
For sharpening blades (small cooking or cosmetic knives, for example). Carved from metamorphic rock (purple phyllite) with hole for suspending from perhaps a belt or hook.

Clasp or tag
Beautiful example of silver working. Probably a dress or purse fastener, decorated with Anglo-Saxon interlacing design and stylised animals. Could be sewn onto garment or purse through 2 perforations at the bottom.

Bead decoration
Made of brass wire strung through 1 large blue and 2 small yellow glass beads. Finding such ornaments still in position in inhumation graves shows that they were usually worn at the chest, perhaps sewn onto a tunic or dress.

Comb
Made from animal bone with iron rivets to secure side plates. The use of recycled animal bone was very common in the past. Decorated with 'ring and dot' design.