File:Roman Knife Terminal (Possibly) (FindID 122512).jpg

English: A small Roman cast copper-alloy terminal in the form of an eagle's head, possibly from a knife or razor. The partially hollow terminal has a cylindrical socket. The poorly-executed bird holds a small spherical object, probably representing a cake or pellet of food, in its beak. Between the beak and the eye there is a deeply grroved, slightly curving line on either side. The eyes, unusually, are indicated by incised vertical, pointed ovals. Behind the eyes on each side is a vertical, pointed oval ridge, incised with six short diagonal grooves. The back of the head is decorated with five vertical grooved lines, presumably to indicate feathers. The object is 23mm long, 19.7mm deep and 15mm wide. The circular base has a diameter 0f 12.4mm and it weighs 13.9g. Terminals in the form of an eagle's head are not common finds and it is often difficult to ascribe a function with any certainty. An incomplete terminal with a a cylindrical socket was found in Calston Wellington, Wiltshire and is similar in form to that from Cerne Abbas although the eagle's head is depicted as emerging from leaves. The function of the animal head terminal in the form of a stylised eagle of griffin head found in the canabae at Caerleon was interpreted as a possible pommel for a sword or other weapon due to the rectangular hole at the top of the head for a tang or other attachment.