"A rare Roman vehicle fitting depicting a female feline with her paw on a disembodied human head has been discovered in England and officially declared Treasure. Dating to between 43 and 200 A.D., it is the only known Roman vehicle fitting found in Britain that combines a feline with a human head. This unique motif and style make the modest piece so historically significant that even though it's a single object made of base metal,"
"Her tail is tucked under her rear and the curls over the base. The animal is incised with lines that are stylized renditions of musculature. Two small circles may indicate a leopard fur pattern. (The Latin word for panther (pantera) was the word for leopard too.) The head is fully covered with a cap of hair represented by parallel lines from pate to forehead. A moustache and beard also drawn in parallel lines frame a slotted mouth."
The copper-alloy fitting dates from 43–200 A.D. and uniquely pairs a female feline with a human head, the only such Roman vehicle fitting known in Britain. The piece measures about 4.5 by 4 by 1.7 inches, is flat and hollow on the back, and was filled with lead. The modeled front shows a squatting female feline with forelimbs resting on a male human head, incised musculature lines, possible leopard spots, and detailed hair, moustache, and beard in parallel lines. The flat back indicates mounting to a flat surface, likely a yoke strap rather than a carriage. The hair and beard mark the head as a barbarian, and closed lentoid eyes indicate the figure is dead. The piece was found in Harlow, Essex, by a metal detectorist in 2024 and declared Treasure under the amended Treasure Act of 1996.
Read at www.thehistoryblog.com
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