Details

COLEM:1984.43.WC16

Colchester Collections

pot, face pot, cremation vessel

This face pot, and accompanying lid, was excavated at the site of the Colchester Royal Grammar School within Roman Colchester’s western cemetery area. It contains the cremation of an individual over the age of 18. 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.

0117 - 0200

Roman

ceramic, human bone

height: 240.00 mm
diameter: 249.00 mm