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Collection Item: Pendant

Basic info

Collection
Archaeology
Object name
Pendant
Object category
Roman
Description
Oval Medusa pendant. The back is highly polished but the face is dull and very worn so that Medusa's mouth has completely disappeared. The hair appears to have been parted in the middle and covered by a winged head-dress, the central part of which acts as a suspension tube. One stylised snake lies on either side of her face and two below her chin. A cross-hatched rib immediately below her chin may be a fifth snake or a necklace. Described in Eboracum as 'very worn, found with three beads from its necklace... is a smaller version of the Walmgate pendant [YORYM : H321.14.1].' The additional wear to the face of this object may be due to its physical interaction, through be rubbed, as part of a apotropaic rite. Reflective spectroscopy analyses by Allason-Jones and Jones 2001 produced an optical reflection of 0.22%, identifying the material as true jet.
Production date start
43
Production date end
410
Period
Roman

More info

Identification

Object number
YORYM : H320.1
Alternative number
B6
Number of objects
1
ID
1337

Physical Characteristics

Materials
Jet (Whole)
Dimensions
Whole length 3.3 cm
Whole width 2.6 cm
Whole thickness 0.9 cm
Suspension loop length 1.2 cm
Suspension loop diameter 0.3 cm

Find spot

Method
Archaeological excavation
Place
York

Production

Technique
Carved