An incomplete cast and engraved copper alloy figurine depicting a cockerel.

The figurine is substantially intact, although both feet and most of the legs are missing. Its body is roughly oval in plan, with moulded teardrop-shaped wings decorated with oblique scoring and fine hatching intended to represent feathers. While stylised, the head is depicted fairly realistically. The cockerel’s comb and wattles respectively project from the top and underside of its head, while the eye is formed from a raised annulet set within a recessed dimple. Even the nostrils are rendered, formed by two shallow indents located on the upper portion of the beak.

The neck, chest and belly areas are all covered with incised chevrons and linear strokes (once again, clearly intended to represent feathers), while from the rear of the body a crescentic, strongly arched tail of flattened form extends, decorated on both sides with oblique, tightly-packed hatching.

Such figurines could represent toys, ornaments, or votive items set up in the context of shrines. Within Roman religious belief, cockerels were one companion animal of the god Mercury (others being the ram and tortoise).

Patron deity of merchants, commercial enterprise and travellers, Mercury’s additional role was as messenger of the gods – an aspect appropriately symbolised by the cockerel’s loud crowing.

Within the context of Roman animal figurines from Britain, those depicting cockerels are the most commonly encountered. Examples have been excavated at various sites, both urban and rural, religious and domestic. These include figurines from Cirencester, Colchester, Tingewick, Uley, and Godmanchester.

Although our figurine from Towcester could feasibly indicate the presence of a shrine to Mercury somewhere in the vicinity of the site, it is perhaps more plausible that it was originally set up within a domestic space – perhaps representing more localised worship and veneration at the household level. Though recovered unstratified from topsoil, it probably dates between the 2nd and earlier 4th centuries AD on stylistic grounds and other artefact evidence from the site.