Roman Bone Hairpins

Archaeology (Verulamium Museum)

Two Roman bone hairpins: one with a head in the form of a ram's head (top); the other with a head in the form of a female human head with an elaborate hair style that was the height of fashion about AD100.(bottom). These hairpins were part of a cremation burial and the discolouration and warping of the bone was caused by the heat of the funeral pyre. These were used to pin up a lady's hair. At the start of the Roman period buns were simple but later became more elaborate. Hairpins are useful for dating as at different times, either long or short pins were favoured according to which hairstyles were popular. They would also have had wooden pins but these have not survived.

bonepinsph3692j.tif

CD 29

9) Verulamium Museum (on display)

[not applicable].

28/06/2006