File:Iron Age to Roman Cosmetic Pestle (FindID 286340).jpg

English: A complete cast copper-alloy Post Medieval fastener or toggle. The object is basically T-shaped.(19.1 x 7.4mm) and has a central integral arm (length: 10.6mm) projecting from one side which is oval in cross-section. This arm terminates with a pair of suspension loops in figure-8 form and set horizontally. These loops have an inner diameter of 2.8mm and an outer diameter of 6.7mm. The object has a roughened corroded surface with flecks of a dark green patina. 25.4 x 19.0 x 7.1mm. Weight: 6.71g.

This object is one of a group of artefacts which were originally identified by Ralph Jackson and Sally Worrell as cosmetic pestles, dating from the late Iron Age or early Roman period, AD 100 - 200. However, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that at least some of these items are in fact clothing fasteners; toggles similar to those on a duffle coat. One piece of evidence is the distribution of PAS examples, which differ from the distribution of cosmetic sets. See the discussion on page 6 of Jackson (2010) Cosmetic Sets of Late Iron Age and Roman Britain, and compare number 513 and 593.

Reference: Jackson, R, 1985, 'Cosmetic sets from Late Iron Age and Roman Britain', Britannia, 16, 165-192. Sally Worrell, National Finds Adviser of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, notes that several of the double-looped pestles recorded by the PAS have been reported on the margins of the general distribution of this artefact type (Worrell 2008: 349). Similar artefacts are recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database. For example, see finds: WMID-905A14, SWYOR-131B66, HAMP-540E35, HAMP-739C36, SUSS-009051, SF-6E4BF6, NARC-B99420, DENO-D53724, KENT-7B0A04 and KENT-23B3B2.