Casgliadau Arlein

Flat strip, broken at both ends. Upper portion of apteryx from the armoured skirt of a greater than life-size imperial statue. This slightly tapering fragment has a 'plaited' border indicated by ciselure, and a midrib with light, oblique incisions to either side. The midrib may well have terminated with a floral motif, perhaps an acanthus-spike and the fragment from Weissenburg which also has a 'plaited' border. From the presence of the midrib it is possible to infer that this pteryx is likely to have been fairly long, and would therefore have come from the lower row, or the single row of lappets forming a skirt. Traces of two rivet holes indicate the method of attachment to other elements of the statue. This imperial statue no doubt stood in the principia, where a representation of the reigning emperor was an essential furnishing, even in a remote auxiliary fort.