Fragments of Lead, Birrens

Found whilst metal detecting, this fragment of lead is believed to be a part of waste material from the object production process.    Roman decorative pieces from clothing, horse harness and armour.   Copper alloy objects were often tinned or silvered. Tinning simply requires the object to be dipped in molten tin, while silvering was achieved by beating out silver foil and attaching it to the object with lead/tin solder. Tinning was used for helmets, scabbard and belt fittings, cavalry harness and even armour. Silvering was used on cavalry equipment. Dagger sheaths were sometimes decorated with silver, brass or gold inlays. From the second century AD onwards enamel inlay became popular.