Lead Panel with building. Donated by the late Mr Joe O'Callaghan.

A highly unusual object, this lead fragment has the image of the façade of a highly decorated Roman building impressed onto its surface. The building is of at least three 3 storeys, the upper two appearing to be part of a central tower. At what is presumed to be the centre of the building stands either a doorway with a figure, or a niche containing a statue. To either side stand what appear to be 2 projecting columns.To the left of the tower another wing of the building can be seen, with arched windows or doorways visible on the ground floor, and plainer square windows on the upper floor: above these there would appear to be a row of busts. Although lead tanks and coffins are often impressed with patterns, detailed designs such as this are rare; it is uncertain quite what the building portrayed is, or what the lead fragment was originally part of.
If anyone has any suggestions please contact the museum on 01727 751824.

Gold ingot.

This small shapeless ingot is made of gold with a high copper content, which gives the piece a reddish appearance, and is typical of the gold produced in the Iron Age by British tribes such as the Catuvellani. Furthermore the ingot's weight is the same as the gold coins produced by these tribes known as staters. It would appear that this ingot was either intended to be formed into a coin, and was lost before this process could be carried out, or is a stater that has been melted down again.

Copper Alloy Owl.

Measuring only 22mm in height, this small owl figurine is the only surviving part of a larger religious statue. The owl is one of the animals associated with the Roman god of Mercury, the others being the ram and the tortoise (as Mercury was said to have formed a lyre trom a tortoise shell). All three of these animals would originally have been represented grouped around Mercury upon a bronze statue base. A more complete example of this grouping is already on display within the museum.