Sculpture, statuette

A female figure wears drapery falling in folds to the front from waist to foot, but is naked above. Her left foot appears below the long drapery. A band marks the top of the clothing and the bend of the left leg is hinted at in the folds. Her right arm crosses over her body to assist in holding a round vessel or urn from which she pours water. The water is carved as a simple wide stream and is not carefully distinguished, leading to initial identification as a female in the pose of a mourner leaning against a post or tree.

This has been tentatively identified as Hadrianic, probably a pagan funerary statue from a roadside shrine along the side of Stane Street, which passes through this area. It was found in a pit with 2nd century pottery.

A head with a diadem carved in similar artistic style and from about the same date was found on the same site (see number SKS88[200]<26>), but is perhaps too large to be associated with this figure.