File:Toilet article (FindID 270921).jpg

English: A thin copper alloy artefact, probably a toilet or medical implement of Roman or Early Medieval date. The artefact is a sub-rectangular shaft. The upper end is flared and the end is incised with four short grooves on the front. There is a very crisp circular hole in the flared part. The upper part of the artefact is decorated with eight ring and dot motifs. There are two above the hole, next to each other, and six along the upper half of the shaft. Half way down the shaft, the design changes to incised diagonal lines, with some cross hatching. This ends a short distance from the end of the object. The upper face is very flat and worn at the end, and it has a thin rounded end. The upper surface of the implement is flat; the lower surface is slightly rounded and tapers at the pointed end. The object seems to be some form of cosmetic or toilet implement of uncertain type. It is not an ear scoop, a pick or a nail cleaner. It may be a probe or a cosmetic applicator. The hole suggests that is was intended to be suspended. Toilet sets are often found suspended on a chatelaine brooch. However, there is no wear on the hole, and the hole is from front to back, not from side to side as is more normal. The artefact is bent in two places. It has a length of 32.78mm, width 2.76mm, thickness 1.83mm and a weight of 1.69g. No particularly close parallel has been found, but the style of decoration suggests a late Roman or Early Medieval date, perhaps 300 - 800 AD.