A set of pottery
Along the bottom edge are the lightly
SATAVACVS â•‘BELLICIA
Originally, the pipes would have produced at least six notes, but have become damaged. Even so, it is possible to play the notes on a chromatic scale of Bb, B, C, C# (compare the excavation report, which suggested the notes Bb 102mm, C 97mm, flat C# 86mm, C# 84mm). It is unexpected to find that the notes sound upon a scale that is recognisably modern in structure (see Brodribb, Hands, Walker 1973: p.46 for comparisons with other known panpipes). The names incised upon the instrument are both Celtic in origin (RIB II.4.2457.1 comm.), and may identify successive owners of the pipes, or perhaps two joint owners (male and female). The online database Celtic Personal Names of Roman Britain supports the readings SATAVCVS and BELLICIA.
Sound recordings have been made of Alison Cooley playing the pipes by permission of the Ashmolean Museum:
Brodribb, Hands, Walker (1973) pp.44-46, with Fig. 23; Wright and Hassall (1973) p.332 no.30; RIB II.4.2457.1 (1992); Wright, Hassall, Tomlin (1975) p.294; RIB II.8.2505.4 (1995), corrigendum to RIB II 2457.1; Ashmolean Museum Department of Antiquities MS. Accession Register 2005.34; Brodribb, Hands, Walker (2005) pp.308-10 with Fig. IV.23
Online: EDCS-49600451 [accessed 13/09/16] Ashmolean, British Archaeological and Antiquarian Objects Online [accession no.2005.34] http://www.ashmolean.org/ash/objects/ [accessed 13/09/16]