A small and curiously shaped object was discovered by MOLA archaeologists during excavation in the Moorgate area.
The hexagonal copper-alloy object is highly ornate and decorated with blue enamel. Found in several pieces, the artefact has been identified as a 1st or 2nd century Roman flask.
The object is extremely rare, with only twelve examples known to have been found in the world, many of which are fragmentary. It is thought that these decorative vessels were intended to carry ointments and perfumes. Similar flasks have been found alongside other items associated with cosmetics, supporting this theory.
