English: Roman casket fittings. The wooden casket no longer survives, however the copper alloy fittings survive. This comprises of 13 rings, 8 lions head mounts, two handles and a corner strap. The fittings from this casket can be found throughout the Roman period, however this example is most likely a late 1st to 2nd century example due to the context in which it was found. The casket was probably initially used as a container for jewellery, with the lions symbolising protection. The casket was then used for funerary purposes. The casket would have been reused for funerary purposes (Nina Crummy), rather than having been manufactured specifically for funerary purposes with the lions symbolizing the powers of death (Partridge 1981 p315)

There are eight lions head studs, all of which are damaged. The studs are pyramidal in form with a hollow concave reverse. The upper surface of each stud is decorated with a stylised lions head. The mounts have a wide, undecorated rim before a band of engraved transverse lines which represent the lions mane. The centre of the design is more pronounced, and is comprised of a central triangular element representing the nose, with a central dot and three incised diagonal lines to either side. Below the nose is a vertical groove and dot to form the mouth. To each side of the nose on the upper edge is an incised oval with a central dot, representing the eyes. In the hollow reverse, the corroded remains of an iron rivet is present on all examples. These rivets were soldered internally and used to attach lock plates to the casket.

1) Damaged around half of the rim. Diameter:30.72mm, height:20.49mm, weight: 10.13g 2) Damaged around half of the rim. Diameter:28.38mm, height:20.48mm, weight:9.84g 3) One third survives. Full diameter not present, width: 26.73mm, height:19.90mm, weight:7.64g 4) Decorative head and mane present. Plain band is missing. Diameter:23.79mm, height:13.49mm, weight:6.97g 5) Damage to edge of rim. Diameter:31.20mm, height:22.86mm, weight:11.66mm 6) Decorative head & mane survive. Plane rim damaged all around edges. Diameter:28.20mm, height:15.71mm, weight:9.95g 7) Damaged around half of the plain rim. Diameter:30.12mm, height:20.98mm, weight:13.69g 8) Small amount of damage on plain rim. Diameter: 31.71mm, height:23.31, weight:13.37g

There are an addition two fragments of the plain rim. It is uncertain which stud they are from. 1) Approximately half of a plain rim. Diameter:29.65mm, height:9.44, weight:3.22g. 2) Fragment. Length;20.71mm, height:10.42mm, weight:0.89g

There are thirteen rings with ridged decoration on their outer surface. Most of the rings have an area of iron staining, probably from a clip or hook of iron sheeting. All the rings have a smooth convex inner edge, with the outer edge being divided into five facets.

1) Iron staining on one edge. External diameter:39.86mm, internal diameter:32.26mm, thickness: 4.03mm, weight:11.45g. Iron staining on one edge. 2) Iron corrosion on two opposite edges. External diameter: 40.04mm, internal diameter:31.51mm, thickness: 4.18mm, weight:13.25g.. 3) Iron corrosion on two opposite edges. External diameter: 40.54mm, internal diameter: 32.32mm, thickness: 3.94mm, weight: 13.09g. 4) Small amount of iron staining on one side. External diameter:40.37mm, internal diameter:31.89mm, thickness:4.67mm, weight: 12.23g. 5) Iron staining on two opposite edges. External diameter: 40.71mm, internal diameter: 32.19mm, thickness: 4.62mm, weight: 12.76g. 6) One edge has iron staining, the edge opposite this staining is worn. External diameter:39.71mm internal diameter: 32.92mm, thickness:4.93mm (4.14mm worn edge). 7) Iron corrosion on one edge. External diameter:40.70mm, internal diameter: 32.44mm, thickness: 4.47mm, weight: 11.17g. 8) Iron corrosion on one edge. External diameter: 40.55mm, internal diameter: 32.58mm, thickness:4.44mm, weight: 11.99g 9) Iron staining on one edge external diameter: 40.50mm, internal diameter: 31.89mm, thickness:4.64mm, weight:12.64g, 10) Trace of iron staining on one edge. External diameter: 39.77mm, internal diameter: 31.47mm, thickness: 4.58mm, weight: 12.48g 11) Iron corrosion on two opposite edges External diameter: 39.52mm, internal diameter: 31.54mm, thickness: 4.83mm, weight: 12.47g 12) Iron corrosion on one edge, the opposite edge is worn. External diameter: 40.51mm, Internal diameter: 32.80mm, thickness: 4.61mm, weight: 11.91g, 13) Iron corrosion on one edge. External diameter: 41.42mm, internal diameter:32.66mm, thickness: 4.66mm, weight: 12.97g

The two drop handles have a lozenge cross section, and has a central grip which is decorated on each side with an incised cross. The ends of the handle are hooked for attachment, only one hooked end survives on each handle. The hooked end has a moulded terminal, which is roughly pyramidal in form, with a cylindrical section extending from the base of the pyramid. There is a separate, broken hooked end, which would have originally been attached to one of the handles.

1) 81.06mm long, 33.22mm high, 6.20mm thick. The central decorated boss measures 10.63mm by 6.5mm. The break on the handle is recent. The broken hooked terminal measures 21.36mm by 10.50mm. It weighs 15.42 grams. 2) 90.76mm long, 27.65mm high, 6.03mm thick. Central decorated boss is 8.76mm by 6.66mm. It weighs 15.14 grams. Only one hooked end survives, this is covered in iron corrosion and is very worn on one side.

Lock plate

1) Sub-rectangular plate, with an expanded sub-circular terminal and a worn break at the other terminal. The upper surface has five pairs of moulded decoration with a central groove, creating four wider plain bands in between. Alternate bands appear to have traces of tinning/silvering on the surface. The sub-circular terminal has two openwork semi-circles, with six expanding grooves radiating out from the space inbetween them to the curved edge. There is traces of silvering/tinning at this point. The reverse of the fitting is plain and undecorated except for a projecting sub-rectangular lug with a lug worn circular perforation. There is a patch of darker staining on the reverse, possibly from iron corrosion. Measuring: 86.31mm long, 26.14mm wide, expanding to 28.77mm at the circular terminal. The metal is 3.21mm thick. \reverse lug is 20.42mm by 17.26mm wide, 4.74mm thick. The central perforation is 6.59mm by 7.71mm. 32.18 grams. 2) The hinge end of the above. The breaks match. The break is recent. The hinge end has a fifth wide band with traces of tinning/silvering. There is a moulded rectangular rib before the plate bends at 110 degrees. The hinge extends backwards, the plate is undecorated before expanding at the terminal to form a circular hinge – there is a notched groove at each end.. There is a sub-rectangular opening (measuring 6.41 by 3.82mm), surrounded by iron corrosion, where the strap would have (presumably) been attached to an iron box strap. The reverse of the hinge mechanism also has a large amount of iron staining. 27.86mm long, 28.89mm wide, expanding to 36.89mm at the hinge terminal. Weight: 18.33grams. The complete hinge/attachment plate would have been approximately 110.20mm long. 50.51 grams in total.

3) Incomplete copper alloy fitting, rectangular in plan with a perpendicular circular terminal at the point of the triangle. There is a worn break at the top. The fitting is adhering to an incomplete copper alloy plate with breaks on all edges. There is a large amount of corroded iron adhering to the back of this plate. Fitting: 25.88mm long, 7.21mm wide to 20.4mm, terminal is 10.28mm in diameter. The plate it rests on is 22.76mm long, 15.66mm wide, 2.44mm thick. Weight: 4.68 grams.