https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/templates/general_wide/img/logo.png https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/miscellaneous.html https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/miscellaneous/gaming-counter-45367.html Wed, 02 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A Roman period discoidal bone gaming counter, inscribed on one face with XLIIX - probably a variant form of 48.
Category:		Roman, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/miscellaneous/gaming-piece-59131.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:05:59 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A discoidal ceramic gaming piece made from a re-worked sherd of red-brown pottery. Both sides of the object have striations, those on one side resembling the Roman numeral III, but possibly decoration from the host object. The recorder notes that the piece was found at Roman Ancaster in a field littered with pottery sherds and directly next to the fort.
Category:		Roman, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/miscellaneous/awl-59019.html Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:48:42 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A cast copper-alloy awl of probable Late Iron Age to Roman date (see below). The awl is cast in the form of a rod with differently shaped ends. The shorter end, approximately 45 percent of the length, is circular in cross-section and tapers to a point. The longer end is of flat rectangular cross-section and tapers to a rounded chisel edge. There is a distinct shoulder at the junction of the two sections and also a transverse groove across one flat face of the rectangular section. It is possible that the longer end simply furnished a tang, which was fitted into a wooden handle. Tools of generally similar type have been found in contexts from the Middle Bronze Age onwards, but the recorder notes that several Roman coins and brooches were found in the same part of the field. A Late Iron Age to Roman date therefore seems most likely.
Category:		Roman, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/miscellaneous/enamelled-finial-or-knob-58471.html Thu, 27 Feb 2025 12:08:13 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		An enamelled cast copper-alloy finial or decorative knob of the Roman period. The object has a flared circular front, a short, sub-cylindrical body and the stub of a rearward-projecting shank. The shank appears to consist of a very short square-section base and a circular-section extension that has broken off immediately beyond it. The square section base was most likely to prevent rotation, the original length of the circular-section extension is uncertain. The flared front is recessed and inlaid with enamel, of which two segments survive. The two segments are diametrically opposed quadrants of red enamel. The remaining two quadrants have lost their enamel, and it is uncertain whether their blue/green discoloration is copper-alloy verdigris or residue from a blue enamel, which would have created a design of alternate contrasting colours. At the centre of the enamelled recess there is an indented dot within a raised metal ring. Except for its enamelled decoration, the present object is closely similar in form to those objects that are often described as 'lock-plate fasteners', e.g. UKDFD 53323 and UKDFD 44587. There is evidence that at least one use of these objects was to fasten lock plates to wooden chests and boxes, although many other functional and decorative uses, particularly on furniture, seem likely. The present object would probably have been used in a similar way.
Category:		Roman, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/miscellaneous/bead-57758.html Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:52:59 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		An irregularly cast, plain copper-alloy annular bead. It is probably of late Iron Age or Roman date, but generic beads of similar form are known from the Bronze Age to the post-Roman period. See also; UKDFD 23103, UKDFD 14939 & UKDFD 15559 as similar.
Category:		Roman, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/miscellaneous/nail-or-stud-57728.html Tue, 07 Nov 2023 17:19:04 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A copper-alloy nail or stud with a large bun-shaped head and a tapered square-section shaft with pointed end. Nina Crummy (see References below) notes that fasteners of this type with globular, bun-shaped or biconical heads are almost certainly from furniture upholstery. She also observes that the distinction between a nail and a stud is to a large extent subjective.
Category:		Roman, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/miscellaneous/awl-57611.html Mon, 18 Sep 2023 09:19:35 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A cast copper-alloy object, probably an awl or other small tool, but whose exact use is uncertain. The object is cast in the form of a rod, approximately half of which is of sub-square cross-section and half of flat, sub-rectangular cross-section. The former half tapers uniformly to a sharp point and is probably the functional end of the object. The latter half tapers slightly in width to a chisel-shaped end and is probably a tang for insertion into a wooden handle. Tools of generally similar type have been found in contexts from the Middle Bronze Age onwards, but the present one is of more regular geometric form than is typically the case with earlier examples. For this reason, and the recorder's note that several Roman coins had been found in the same field, a Roman date seems most likely.  Cf. PAS: WILT-5553D1
Category:		Roman, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/miscellaneous/glass-bead-57589.html Tue, 12 Sep 2023 08:59:03 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A complete glass bead likely dating to the early Roman period. The bead is of the 'melon' type of classification, with nine gadrooned longitudinal reeds projecting irregularly around the outside, overall giving the classification type its form. The central perforation is circular and smooth in appearance. The glass colour appears to have a pale blue tone. This bead form is produced in glass, glazed earthenware and natural stone. Gadroons can be created by filing the outer surface, or more likely for glass types to be poured and solidified in a mould. Nina Crummy, (see below reference) suggests that these beads are most notable from the first half of the roman period, although some may be earlier. The recorder notes the bead was found in a Roman context.
Category:		Roman, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/miscellaneous/glass-bead-57564.html Fri, 01 Sep 2023 14:02:14 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A pale blue annular glass bead, probably of the Roman period. The bead is circular in plan with a central perforation and a sub-oval section. Dating glass beads without other contextual evidence can be very tricky. A Roman dating is most probable for finds of this nature, but a later dating is also possible since beads using a similar method of manufacture were produced for an extended period.
Category:		Roman, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/miscellaneous/dividers-57433.html Tue, 30 May 2023 20:05:48 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		An incomplete pair of dividers dating to the Roman period. The surviving part of the dividers consists of the upper ends of both arms and the pivot mechanism by which means they are joined together. The lower, pointed ends of the arms are missing. The surviving lengths of both arms have a wider upper section and a narrower lower section, the wider section being simply decorated above the junction. The decoration is apparently incised and consists of opposing double chevrons above and below a double transverse line. The pivot mechanism consists of a dome-headed spindle, a matching domed sleeve and an iron wedge (now heavily corroded). The dome-headed spindle is fitted through drilled holes at the top of the arms, and the domed sleeve is fitted to the opposite end of the spindle. The iron wedge is fitted through a slot in the projecting end of the spindle such that it serves to retain the sleeve and apply pressure to tighten the arms together. During the Roman period, dividers were used as measuring instruments by many tradesmen, including carpenters, smiths and masons. See also PAS: DUR-83CC6C.
Category:		Roman, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

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