Details

COLEM:1928.363.1

Colchester Collections

pot, face pot, cremation vessel

This face pot contains the cremation of two individuals: a young person under the age of 13 and a man over the age of 18. It was discovered in the area of Lexden Road, the site of Roman Colchester’s western cemetery. The pot dates to AD 43-80. Braithwaite type RB 31B. Face pots are unusual Roman cremation vessels that have a face applied to the body of the pot. Although there are similarities in style, each one is unique in some way. They are rare in Britain, but Colchester has one of the largest collections. Face pots have been associated with the Roman army, and this may explain their popularity in Colchester, which had a strong military community from AD 49. It is still unknown whether the face was meant to represent an image of the deceased, a god or goddess or had some other meaning.

0043 - 0080

Roman

ceramic, human remains

height: 320.00 mm
diameter: 320.00 mm

In Store