A Lead Tank Fragment from Brough, Notts. (Roman 'Crococalana') Author(s): Dorothy J. Watts Source: Britannia, Vol.

26 (1995), pp. 318-322 Published by: Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/526887 Accessed: 02/09/2009 16:33
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A Lead Tank Fragment from Brough, Notts. (Roman Crococalana). Dorothy J. Watts writes: Some time in the late I970S, a metal-detectoruser discovered a large object in a field east of the A46, opposite the scheduled site of Roman Crococalana (SK 837 584). The object, a sheet of decorated lead (FIG.6; PL. VI), was subsequently acquired by the Newark Museum, and remains on display there. It was assumed that the find was part of a lead coffin, since there are other coffins from the district in the museum.68 Until now no study of the piece has been undertaken. On examination, it appears that the sheet of lead was part of a container usually categorised as a circv}lar tank.69While the actual find spot is not recordedtit is likely to have been located within or near the eastern sector of the small fortified town. The close proximity of the field to a known Roman site and the similarity of the object to a number of lead tanks found in Britain make it fairly certain that it too was of Roman date, and probably of the fourth century The decoration on the fragment can readily be interpretedas Christian. If this is accepted, then the piece is importantnot only in expanding knowledge of the extent of Christianity in the fourth century, but also as the first known Christian object from this part of Roman Britain. The height of the fragment varies from 370 to 390 mm, with a slight tapering from right to left. The width ranges from 730 to 820 mm, and the thickness of the lead is 3-4 mm. A portion of the sheet which formed the base of the tank remains, and this is attached to the sides sealed between two strips of lead. The construction seems similar to, but not exactly like, that of the tanks from Burwell70 and
Kenilworth.71

Around the top of the fragment is a moulded band of lead I5-I7 mm wide, finished with an indented lower edge. The main decoration comprises two registers. The upper is a continuous frieze of Xs in applied straps or bands, I6 mm wide, separatedby pairs of narrowerverticals which appearto have been

68 69 70 71

A. Smith,Trans ThorotonSoc. xlv ( I 94I ), I o6-g; C.M.Wilson,Lincs. Hist. & Arch. vii See C.J.Guy,Britannia Xii ( I 98 I ), 27 I -6. C.J.Guy Proc. Camb.Antiq. Soc. Ixviii (I978), 2-4. C.J.Guy Trans.BirminghamWarwicks Arch. Soc. xcv (I987-8), I07-9.

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A lead tank fragmentfrom Brough, Notts. (Drawing: City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit).

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part of the original moulding. The main feature of the lower register is a device consisting of a circle overlaid by an intersecting X-and-vertical; this is flanked by a pair of Y-shaped motifs with arms at an angle of about 45 degrees and the vertical extending to the same height as the arms. The intersecting Xand-verticaland the arms of the Ys are applied bands; the circle and uprightsare moulded. The decoration appears to have been carried out with care. All applied bands are themselves decorated with a scored X-and-vertical design and the narrow verticals with a rope-like pattern. Some of this decoration, particularly on the uprights of the Ys, may have been part of the original moulding, but definition of the motifs on the other verticals is sharp, suggesting that much of the decoration was done after casting. The lower edges of all the applied strapsare finished with a V-shaped indentation. There is no evidence that any violence had been used in breaking up the original vessel. The edges appear to have been cut with a sharp object, although there is some tearing and bending at the top right corner,where the reinforced edge may have made it more difficult to cut. The height of the Eighteen or so whole or partial circular lead tanks are known from Roman Britain.72 (405 and 355 mm), Icklingham piece (370-390 mm) compares with the tanks from Bourton-on-the-Water (370 and 330 mm), Ashton (380 mm), and Huntingdon (400 mm).73If these are any guide, the diameter of the Brough tank was probably in the range of 8Io-g6s mm. The decoration is also comparablewith that found on other tanks. It does, however, have some features which are unique on such vessels, though found elsewhere in Roman Britain and in a Christian context. The X motif with separate verticals is found on seven tanks or fragments: Pulborough, Willingham, (two), Huntingdon,and Ashton.74The last two of these have circles in Caversham,Bourton-on-the-Water the four triangles formed by the X. The Pulborough and Caversham tanks also have a Chi-rho as decoration. In an earlier study,75it was shown that the X was a form of the Christian cross, the crux decussataor St Andrew's cross, and that its presence on these tanks, with or without an accompanying Chi-rho, was an indication that the symbol had an association with Christianity.76 The Y-type devices reinforce this interpretation.To date, no similar symbol has been found on a lead tank in Roman Britain, but there has been a non-functional metal object in the shape of a Y found in a This object was noted by Sparey Green in Ig82.78 In a more grave in the cemetery at Poundbury.77 detailed study by the present author, it was concluded that the object gave further weight to a Christian The symbol, as it appears on the Brough tank, resembles that still identity for the Poundburycemetery.79 found today on chasubles, with the vertical of the Y extended upwards about the same height as the diagonals. This then resembles the oransattitude, found in early Christianart and - most significantly for The our purpose here - on the walls of the house church at Lullingstone. It was equated with the cross.8() Y symbol was also seen as representing moral choice, an idea borrowed from the Greeks.81 Such a symbol, with the implication of making a choice for good or evil, would be a singularly appropriate decoration on a vessel used in Christian baptism, a religious ritual in which the candidate was asked to renounce the devil and all his works. Although the X and Y symbols point to Christianity and may both be seen, among other interpretations,as representing the cross, it is the intersecting X-and-vertical superimposed on a circle

tank (undecorated) hassince (I99I), t58-75. A further Britai71 Christians and Pagans in Ronla71 72 See D.J.Watts, Archaeology by kindlysupplied Dr Ben Whitwell, (Information beenfoundat Riby,Lincs.,but its dateis uncertain. Council.) County Unit,Humberside up of cit. (note7X),tableI fora summary sizes of tanksdiscovered to t989. 73 See Guy,o,p. op. cit. (note72), figs 23 (d), (f), 24 (a-e). 74 See Watts, in updated the t99t publication A7ltiq.Jour7l. lxviii (t988), 2Io-22. This paperwas subsequently 75 D.J. Watts, op. (Watts, cit. (note72)). Misopogo 60 I 1.3 includeIsidore,Orige71 andpossiblyJustinMartyr, Apologwn andJulian, references 76 Ancient 357A Poundbltr. 2. The Cemeteries (I993), fig. 83.40 in Gravet339. andT.I.Molleson, 77 D.E.Farwell 78 L. Keen(ed.),Proc. Dorset Nat. Hist. Arch. Soc. Ci ( I 98 I ), I 33. in to op. cit. (note72), I73-8. Thegravebelonged a male,nota female,as reported thatpublication. 79 See Watts, Epistle I2.2. Felix,Octavius 29.6; andpossiblyBarnabas, 80 e.g. Municius op. Et>mologiae 1.3.7. See Watts, cit. (note72), I77 andnotes. 81 e.g. Isidore,

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32 I

which is clearly the central motif on the fragment. It was presumably also the focal point of the complete veLssel.In Christian symbolism the device represents the initial letters of IHEOYS XPISTOS (Jesus Christ). This Iota-chi X combination was probably the earliest Christian monogram, preceding the Chirho i ,89 which became widely used after the conversion of Constantine in 3 I2. At least two inscriptions using the Iota-chi monogram in place of the words 'Jesus Christ' are known from as early as the third century. The first, of about A.D. 270, is from Phrygia, and concludes with the words ESTAI AYTQ IIPOS TON X ('he will have to account to Jesus Christ').83The second, from Rome, can be positively dated to 269, and includes the phrase [IN] X DN = (IN) IESU CHRISTO DOMINO NOSTRO ('in Jesus Christ our Lord').84 A third example, also from Rome,85 evidently predates the Council of Nicaea of 325 (and affirmation of the nature of the Trinity), since it reads AVGVRINEIN DOM ET X ('Augurinus, (may you rest) in (our) Lord and Jesus Christ'). By the early part of the fourth century, the monogram had come to be used as a symbol, ratherthan as an abbreviation.86 Nevertheless, it continued to be found in various parts of the Empire. Later examples from Egypt87and Rome88date from the sixth and seventh century.89 The Iota-chi may, therefore, be set securely within the context of Christianmonograms and symbols of the third to seventh centuries. Its presence in Roman Britain on various artefacts cannot be seen as unusual. While the Brough fragment is the only known example of the use of the device as decoration on a lead tank, there are other artefacts from Britain which bear the monogram.90 Two of these have known Christian symbols besides the Iota-chi. One is an importantpiece in the British Museum, a pewter plate from Stamford;it has a central motif of Iota-chi, encircled by crosses of the decussata type, palm leaves, and two simplified Chi-rho symbols.9' The other is a pottery platter from Lankhills cemetery, with an Iota-chi on one side and what may be a stylised fish on the reverse.92The platter was found with burials in Feature6, an enclosure which is believed to have contained the graves of Christians.93 On the Broughfragment,the prominenceof the Iota-chi is enhancedby the circle, over which the strapsof lead forming the monogramwere laid. Circles are found on a numberof lead tanks from Britain,including those from Huntingdon,Oxborough, Burwell, Ireby, Wilbraham,and perhaps Cambridge.The device has been variously interpreted representing as eternity,the world, the cosmos, and an everlastingGod, as well as a wreath of triumph.94 is found in Christian contexts, standing alone and in conjunction with another It symbol. In the lattercase, this may be seen as intensifyingthe religious significanceof both symbols.95 It will thus be seen that we have considerable evidence for a Christian identity for the lead fragment, and parallels from Roman Britain for the complete vessel. The purpose of these tanks has been frequently discussed,96and the writer has proposed that they were used at Christian baptism for performing a footwashing ritual. For this paper, however, the importance of the object lies not in its purpose but in its

xn e.g. W.M. Ramsay, Cities azldBishopricslJfPhrygial.I (I897), 526-7; O. Marucchi, Christia7l Epigraphy reprint I974), 59; M. Sulzberger,Byza71tios1 ii (I925), 393-7. xX CIG 39020. This seems to be a variant on the formula estott oevtci) zpo5 tov 0gov ('he will have to account to God'), which was common in Christianinscriptions in Asia Minor (Ramsay, op. cit. (note 82), SI4-I6). XAG.B. DeRossi, Is1scriptio7les Christias1cle UrbisRost1ae I (I86I), I6, no. IO. XS G.B. DeRossi, La Roselbl Sl)tterras1ea Cristias1a (I867), pl. xxxix, no. 30. 11 86 Sulzberger,op. cit. (note 82), 397. X7 e.g. P.Oxy. I.I26 (A.D. 572), I36 (A.D. 583), I37 (A.D. 584), I38 (A.D. 6IO-II). This last document, although secular in nature,begins with a Christian invocation. xx e.g. E. Diehl, Is:1scriptios1es Latis1ae Christias1ae Veteres (I925), no. 84I (A.D. 584). I 89 The monogram is used only as a symbol in these examples. 9() See Watts, op. cit. (note 72), ISI; 245, n. 9. 91 Now RIB(Vol. 11)24I7.4I. 9' G. Clarke,Pre-RSoznas1Roznas1 clzld Wis:1chester II: TheRSoena7l Part Cemetenx La7lkhills at (I979), 430; fig. 82.256. 93 Watts, op. cit. (note 72), passisel. 94 ibid., I63-6. 95 H. Child and D. Colles, Christias1 Symbols (I97I), 27. 96 See Watts, op. cit. (note 72), I69, for the main theories, and for furtherdetails of the argumentpresented in this present paper.
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identification as part of a vessel decorated with Christian symbols. It adds to our corpus of similar objects in Roman Britain, and to finds with a Christian identity. It also extends knowledge of the distributionof Romano-BritishChristianity. Little is known about Roman Crococalana. It was established towards the end of the first century. The Coins and pottery to the end of the fourth century have been found on both sides of the Fosse Way.97 town appearsto have been fortified in the third century,perhapsbecause of its position between Leicester The and Lincoln, and is one of only five such fortified small towns on this section of the Roman road.98 earliest known excavations were those by Woolley in Ig06,99 in the north-east sector of the enclosure. It is the area east of the A46 which also yielded the lead fragment.'However, in view of the threat to the scheduled site by proposed road widening, the watching brief in I980 and subsequent geophysical surveys in I990 and I99I were concentratedon the area west of the Fosse Way. Archaeological evidence, such as painted wall-plaster, imported pottery, glass, and bronzework, suggests some wealth in the town; but, in the absence of large-scale excavation at the site, little of the activities of Roman Brough can be deduced, and even less the religious beliefs of the inhabitants. Evidence for Christianity in the area generally is sparse. The nearest large centre, and one with a Christian presence, was Lincoln, about I6 km north of Brough. Ancaster, some 20 km to the south east, had a cemetery which appears to have been Christian;'' and recently a fragment of a comma-terminal implement decorated with a Chi-rho was found there.'02The lead piece is thus of great importance in establishing a Christian presence in the Brough area during the Roman period. It is the first such evidence from Nottinghamshire. It raises considerable interest in the scheduled site just across the A46 from the field where the object was found and even greater interest in the field itself. It is known that the lead coffin discovered during World WarII was found east of the area explored by Woolley early this century. A geophysical survey of the field might, therefore, be profitably undertaken. The state of the lead fragment is also of great interest. A number of tanks have been found in a fragmentarystate only; some appear to have been deliberately damaged, or to have been abandoned in unusualplaces such as wells or streams.Guy has suggested that such treatmentis evidence of the revival of While the actual provenance of the Brough find is not known, the paganism in the late fourth century.'03 sheet of lead appears to have been carefully cut. It does not seem to have been subjected to violent treatment,or to the kind of damage that would be caused if the whole vessel had been broken up for reuse of the lead. Nevertheless, its condition could also fit the theory of pagan revival. If, as has been proposed,'04 Christianityin certainareas was underpressureas a result of the efforts of the pagan emperor,Julian,and of the policy of religious tolerationof his (Christian)successors, the Brough lead fragmentmight be evidence of such pressure.Christians,anxious to preserve the sacred monogramon a lead tank which was no longer in use for baptisms,may themselves have cut the piece out and hidden it away from pagan zealots. Such opinion is, at this stage, only speculative. Further research and excavation may help to solve some of the problems. In the meantime, we may be fairly confident in adding the lead fragment from Brough to the list of artefacts with Christian symbols, and thus to our knowledge of Christianity in Roman Britain.'05 Departmentof Classics and Ancient History, The Universityof Queensland

Notts.II (I970), II-I5. V.C.H. Britain(I990), 35, 3I5. of The Towns' Roman and B. Burnham J. Wacher, 'Small Soc. Tra7ls. Thoroto7l x (I9IO), 63-72. T.C.S.Woolley, by kindlysupplied MrV.Radcliffe. 00 Information op. 01 Watts, cit. (note72), ch. III etpassim. Museum. 102 Thisitemis nowin theBritish op. cit. (note69), 275. 03 Guy, op. cit. (note72), 22I-7. 04 Watts, this Councilfor funding Research and of to are 105My thanks extended The University Queensland the Australian the and Unit for organising supplying drawing to research, Mr MichaelJonesandthe City of LincolnArchaeology the to for Museum permission publish object. and andphotograph, to Newark
97 98 99

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