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Roman bone hair comb, late 4th century (NR1.56GS)

The Romans arrived in the area some time after 49AD and built a Legionary fortress at Kingshom, although it was later abandoned in favour of a new fortress 1km to the south (which would later become Colonia Nervia Glevensium and then the city of Gloucester).  The Kingsholm area subsequently became home to extensive roman cemeteries which were in use for some 300-400 years.  Romans – and as time passed the Romano-British – took funerals extremely seriously and professional undertakers were available to organise the funeral, manage the rites and dispose of the body.  Without the benefit of funeral rites, it was thought that the vagrant spirits of the dead would haunt the living.  Both cremation and inhumation were practiced although the tradition of cremation remained predominant in Britain until the 3rd century.  Although relatively few grave goods have been found in inhumation burials and cremations occasionally they are discovered.  This exquisite Roman bone hair comb was found under the shoulder of a female burial during excavations on the site of the Richard Cound BMW dealership.  The burial was dated to the late 4^th century.