Figurines Data

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ID	872
Images	No image in database
Grid Ref	SN6904
Project type	Metal detector
County	Swansea
Site	Swansea
Site Name	Mawr
Site Type	Unknown
Location Type	Unknown
Context	Unknown
Context Quality	1
Object Date	C1 BC/AD
Object Period	1
Material	Bronze
Secondary Material	Enamelled
Location	with finder
Ref No	NMGW-5BF232
Form	Figurine
Type	Animal
Name	Horse
Bearded	No
Standing/Seated	Standing
Clothed	No
Drapery	No
Condition	missing head, legs and tail
Classical	0
Quality	Stylised 2
Photo	Yes
Illustration	No
Height	34.70
Length	43.60
Parallels	Abercarn (179)
References	Lodwick 2006, 190-1, fig. 1; PAS database [Link to Bibliography]
Description	Late Iron Age copper alloy horse figurine, of La Thne style and probably dating to the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD The figurine depicts a horse and is incomplete, missing the head, legs and tail. The horse figurine has a surviving length of 43.61mm and a surviving height of 34.71mm, weighing 23.7g. The piece is finely cast and is decorated with a rectangular enamelled strip (27.2mm long, 2.26mm wide and 0.7mm deep) running from the base of the neck along the back of the horse and filled with red enamel. The body is long and slender and the neck is stylised and is longer than would be expected, elegantly curving to the missing head. The mane is represented by a moulded rib running up the rear of the neck. The breast of the animal is decorated with a small raised triangular pellet (3.8mm wide and long) containing a central circular indentation (1.0mm diameter), possibly also intended to hold enamel. The figurine has generally good surface preservation with a rich, dark green patina. It is now difficult to ascertain what artefact type, if any, the figure was from and there is no surviving means of attachment on the incomplete artefact. The figure may have been free-standing, or possibly attached to a vessel or casket lid. Representations of pigs or boars were popular in .Celtic. traditions and free-standing figure are represented in the archaeological record (see Jope, 2000, p 264-5, Nos. 160-62) , and include a small figure found at Rhossili, Swansea (Jope, 2000, p. 265, No. 162). Free-standing figures of stags, dogs, oxen and birds (often ducks) are also occasionally represented. Free-standing horse figurines are uncommon, a Late Iron Age horse, interpreted as a figurine was found at Abercarn, Caerphilly (Savory, 1954) and is also missing its legs. The Abercarn example has a similar slender waist to this example (PAS).
PAS id	NMGW-5BF232