#FindsFriday Two copper hairpins!

Here we are, back for another #FindsFriday! Today we’re here discussing a skeleton found with two hair pins during out 1970’s excavations at Butt Road car park in Colchester.

These two hair pins were found on the top of the skull of this skeleton (G519), suggesting that this individual was interred with their hair done in an elaborate up do. G519 was identified as being a 7 year old female and was one of only two graves found that had more than one hairpin (the second of which had 7! Keep an eye out for a future #FindsFriday about that one!). Both of their hairpins were made of copper-alloy.

As well as the hairpins they were also buried with a box that had iron and copper-alloy fittings which contained a bone comb and seven armlets – one iron, one shale and five copper-alloy.

The style of the hairpins and other grave goods indicated that this burial took place in the late 4^th century.

Many other hairpins found during the excavation were metal rather than the much cheaper bone ones, which suggests that these pins were bought specially for the interring of the deceased, rather than everyday wear.

To learn more about this burial as well as hundreds of others check out Colchester Archaeological Report 9: Excavations of Roman and later cemeteries, churches and monastic sites in Colchester, 1971-85 at: http://cat.essex.ac.uk/all-reports.html