Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds

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CATEGORY 6: OBJECTS EMPLOYED IN WEIGHING AND MEASURING SCALES Descriptions of the use of both the balance and the steelyard can be found in Kisch 1966, 26-52 and Liversidge 1973, 176-7. Balance (scale with beam arms of equal length; libra) (Fig 103; 2507) 2507 Fig 103 SF LWC 453(C), B165 F70. Cellar backfill. Period 5. The arm of an equipoise balance with a central pierced lug for suspension and pierced decorative terminals for attaching the scale pans. Each half of the arm is graduated by eleven punched dots into twelve divisions, each division probably representing one ounce, uncia (27.29 gm). The balance could therefore be used with a rider-counterpiece suspended on the various graduated spots along the arm as well as with weights in the scale pan (Kisch 1966, 36, 66). Length of the arm 253.0 mm. A complete balance with pans is illustrated in Ward-Perkins and Claridge 1976, catalogue no 249. Steelyard (scale with beam arms of unequal length; statera) (Fig 104; 2508) 2508 Fig 104 SF BKC 3463(C), J275. On floor of building destroyed in AD 60/1. The arm and scale pan of a steelyard, total length 215.0 mm. The chains probably used to suspend the pan from the arm are missing, as is the counterweight. The pan was suspended from the very end of the thick part of the arm, and the counterweight moved along the points of the graduated scale until equilibrium was achieved, ie when the weight suspended times the distance along the arm were equal to either side of the fulcrum. This example, as is usual, has two suspension hooks providing two different fulcra, each with a corresponding scale marked on the arm (see Kisch 1966, 66). The scale on the face corresponding to the hook furthest in from the pan's suspension ring is divided into six by slight transverse grooves, each length thus given then being subdivided by eleven punched dots. Each groove represents a pound, libra (327.45 gm) and each dot an ounce, uncia (27.29 gm) of which there were twelve to the Roman pound. Below this scale, opposite the sixth dot of each pound, is inscribed an S formed by two crescents, representing semis, or six ounces (163.73 gm) (ibid, table 12, chart 9). The other scale is less well preserved, but would appear to be marked out with a combination of transverse grooves and Roman numerals. (Numerals were used to mark the scales on a steelyard from Pompeii (Ward-Perkins and Claridge 1976, catalogue no 248), and a combination of numerals, grooves and dots defined one of the scales on a steelyard from Richborough, Kent (Henderson 1949, pl 38).) Despite the poor condition of the scale, it is possible to deduce the unit of measure involved and the minimum and maximum weight represented at each end. Fig 103 Balance arm (1:2) 99 The fulcrum provided by the outer hook on a steelyard involves the measuring of much greater weights than does that provided by the inner hook. It was usual for this greater scale to take up more or less where the lower scale left off (ibid, 131; Ward-Perkins and Claridge 1976, catalogue no 248). Therefore with a measure from 0 to 6 pounds on the lower scale, the first stop on the greater scale should represent 6 pounds. That this is so can be checked, for if the first stop represents 6 pounds and if each subsequent stop represents a pound, then the distance between the first stop and nought, ie the centre of the fulcrum, should be equivalent to that of six of the units marked on the arm. This is indeed the case. Each unit (ie each pound) in the greater scale measures approximately 5.0mm. The distance from the centre of the fulcrum to the last transverse groove marked on the arm is about 200.0mm, therefore up to 40 Roman pounds (just over 28.5 modern pounds) can be weighed using the outer fulcrum, and the stops marked on the arm ran from 6 to 40 pounds at one pound intervals. Traces of Roman numerals can be distinguished at intervals along the scale. However, apart from the row of three Xs (possibly with other numerals) near the end of the arm, the mid point of the central one of which lies at the point for 35, there seems to be no correspondence between the numerals and the more obvious divisions of the scale, ie at 5 or 10 pound intervals. On the thin edge of the thick part of the arm uppermost when the 6 to 40 pound scale is in use, traces of other letters or numerals are visible. Nearest to the outermost hook is a letter or numeral C (on its back in the illustration) and a transverse groove. At least three other Cs can be distinguished. As the other faces of that part of the arm are blank, this is unlikely to be a decorative feature, and could be expected to relate in some way to the scale, though how has not been established. The scale pan (found close to the steelyard arm) has a central perforation 5.5 mm in diameter. The rim of the pan has been folded over and there are two slight grooves round the outside of the pan below, and at intervals equivalent to, the depth of the fold. These grooves show through the metal on the inside of the pan. The roughly-made rim makes it unlikely that the pan was cast. Either spinning or turning (Hodges 1976, 74-5) seems to be indicated. Riveted to the pan at slightly unequal distances are three fittings (similar to harness strap-loops, Fig 149). Each fitting has a penannular ring passed through it which would have connected the chains or threads used to suspend the pan from the arm. A similar ring is fitted through the suspension hole at the end of the steelyard arm. The diameter of the pan is approximately 90.5 mm, its depth about 23.0 mm. Since the pan is perforated and the steelyard could apparently be used for large weights, it is apparent that this scale was not used for the minute quantities involved in pharmaceutical weighing, but for ordinary household or commercial weighing of solid goods.
Fig 104 Steelyard arm and scale pan (1:2) 100
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COLCHESTER ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT 2:
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© 1983 Colchester Archaeological T
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Colchester Archaeological Reports G
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Acknowledgements I am grateful to t
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109 Antler and bone cheekpieces fro
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For each site or area within a larg
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percentage into five groups: a) coi
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18 Objects the function or identifi
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ow has knurled marginal grooves and
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Britain by the army of conquest, wh
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again into side-wings. The external
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Fig 10 Bow brooches: Group 8 (1:1)
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Fig 14 Plate brooches (1:1) 16
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Unclassified (Fig 14; 88-92) 88 Fig
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worked bone and antler have been fo
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Fig 19 Bone hairpins: Type 3 (1:1)
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Fig 21 Bone hairpins: Type 5 (1:1)
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Fig 23 Bone hairpins: miscellaneous
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the size of the piece of jet used t
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Type 5. Pins with a groove or groov
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Fig 32 Gadrooned beads (1:1) 546 Fi
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usually of one division. It is impo
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ARMLETS Individual types are briefl
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Fig 39 Bone armlet (1:1) Fig 40 Ear
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Fig 42 Plain copper-alloy armlets (
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Fig 44 Copper-alloy armlets with tr
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applied horizontally. The S is made
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Fig 47 Copper-alloy armlets with mu
Page 57 and 58: Fig 50 Plain, coiled, cable-decorat
Page 59 and 60: IRON FINGER-RINGS With setting (Fig
Page 61 and 62: Fig 56 Hobnails plotted in situ in
Page 64 and 65: CATEGORY 2: TOILET, SURGICAL OR PHA
Page 66 and 67: the teeth. 1857 Fig 59 SF BUC 1529,
Page 68 and 69: Fig 63 Tweezers (1:1) this, one lon
Page 70 and 71: Fig 65 Spoon-probes (1:1) damaged.
Page 72 and 73: The nail-cleaner and the third piec
Page 74 and 75: CATEGORY 3: OBJECTS USED IN THE MAN
Page 76 and 77: Copper-alloy. Complete. Bent. Lengt
Page 78 and 79: CATEGORY 4: HOUSEHOLD UTENSILS AND
Page 80 and 81: semicircles of two concentric groov
Page 82 and 83: handle would pass through the hole.
Page 84 and 85: 2066 SF BKC 1940, El 181 (F158). Co
Page 86 and 87: Stone vessel? (Fig 79; 2079) 2086 F
Page 88 and 89: Fig 82 Factory and open lamps, and
Page 90 and 91: Fig 85 Drop- and ring-handles from
Page 92 and 93: Fig 87 Bone and antler inlay (1:1)
Page 94 and 95: have been broken, but used after th
Page 96 and 97: tapering from 23.0 to 15.0 mm wide,
Page 98: plate appears to have formed a prot
Page 101 and 102: Fig 94 Bone counters (1:1) GLASS CO
Page 103 and 104: of a roundel is largely dictated by
Page 105 and 106: Fig 100 Tile counters (1:2) Diamete
Page 110 and 111: WEIGHTS (Fig 105; 2510-2515) 2510 F
Page 112 and 113: CATEGORY 7: OBJECTS USED FOR OR ASS
Page 114 and 115: CATEGORY8: OBJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH
Page 116 and 117: CATEGORY 9: BUILDINGS AND SERVICES
Page 118 and 119: attachment was probably not particu
Page 120 and 121: IRON KNIFE OR CLEAVER BLADES (Fig 1
Page 122 and 123: 2956 Fig 114 SF LWC 3452, J1232 F41
Page 124 and 125: CATEGORY 11: FASTENINGS AND FITTING
Page 126 and 127: Fig 120 Copper-alloy studs with a f
Page 128 and 129: laminated armour). There are copper
Page 130 and 131: arm (externally) 48.5 mm. 4080 Fig
Page 132 and 133: MISCELLANEOUS FITTINGS (Fig 134; 41
Page 134 and 135: Fig 137 Lock-pins (1:1) Fig 138 Lat
Page 136 and 137: CATEGORY 12: OBJECTS ASSOCIATED WIT
Page 138 and 139: CATEGORY 13: MILITARY EQUIPMENT The
Page 140 and 141: Fig 146 Shield binding (1:1) Fig 14
Page 142 and 143: slightly distorted belt-plate with
Page 144 and 145: Fig 154 Decorated front plate of an
Page 146 and 147: on late Roman military belts. The s
Page 148 and 149: LATE ROMAN BELT-FITTINGS, PROBABLY
Page 150 and 151: CATEGORY 14: OBJECTS ASSOCIATED WIT
Page 152 and 153: figures, such as the series of enam
Page 154 and 155: seems to have been a realistically
Page 156 and 157: Fig 180 Amulets (1:1) respectively.
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CATEGORY 15: OBJECTS AND WASTE MATE
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Fig 185 Worked bone from Balkerne L
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Fig 186 Worked bone from Balkerne L
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Fig 188 Lanceolate leaves without p
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Fig 190 Strip mounts from Butt Road
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Fig 192 Miscellaneous mounts from B
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CATEGORY 17: OBJECTS AND WASTE MATE
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Fig 199 Bone ?pegs (1:1) 4472 Fig 1
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Fig 202 Miscellaneous copper-alloy
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Fig 204 Miscellaneous copper-alloy
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Fig 206 Miscellaneous iron objects
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Fig 209 Miscellaneous bone objects
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Fig 211 Antler object (1:2) Fig 212
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BIBLIOGRAPHY Abbreviations BM Briti
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groups' in Britannia, 7, 192-209 Si
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OBJECT INDEX References are given t
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INDEX OF OBJECTS BY MATERIALS Amber
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Shale, see Jet Stones and minerals
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CONTENTS Category 1: personal ornam
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Type 60 The simplest and commonest
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Page 139 merge towards the foot. Th
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Group 7: T-shaped brooches (Fig 9;
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Type 266 Small wheel-shaped brooche
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HAIRPINS Bone pins Unless otherwise
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149 SF MID 558. A2010 L241. General
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186 SF BKC 4841(C), N310. Period 6?
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Page 201 Type 3 Pins with a more or
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Page 203 251 SF BKC 490(C). A9 L1.
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Page 205 287 SF BKC 2802(C), H298 (
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Head A, crude. Page 207 329 SF BKC
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Type 4 Pins with a faceted cuboid h
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Page 211 74.0 mm long. Three rings.
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Shaft fragments Page 213 454 SF LWC
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Page 215 72.0 mm. The shaft is very
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532 SF BKC 4516. Tl. Unstratified.
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561 SF LWC 2556. M121. Rampart la.
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diameter 6.0 mm. Translucent dark b
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diameter 5.5 mm. Translucent dark g
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diameter 4.0 mm. Translucent dark g
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1420 SF BUC 709. C1394 G406. Grave
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Plain (1511-1553) ARMLETS Shale and
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thickness 5.5 mm. height 90 mm. 153
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height 5.0 mm. 1552 SF BUC 1513. H2
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1572 SF CPS 336(C), 533 F116. Robbe
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Early (Fig 40; 1586-1587) Both in p
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1614 SF BUC 336(C), B700 G115. Prob
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53.0 mm. four circular-section stra
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joints fixed by a single copper-all
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1690 SF BUC 953. E149 L13. Destruct
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Bead-imitative (Fig 46; 1715-1723)
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Plain (Fig 49; 1739) In printed cat
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Notched. crenellated (Fig 50; 1764-
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(1807), a coin of Diadumenian (AD 2
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BUCKLES AND BELT-PLATES Unless othe
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1838 SF BUC 492. C456 G274. Grave d
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In printed catalogue (Fig 57; 1850)
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(Fig 60; 1861-1S64) STIRRING-RODS 1
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Type 3 Nail-cleaners with a virtual
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TOILET SPOONS All objects are of co
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1923 SF BKC 5347, N419 F117. Period
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TOILET SETS All the pieces are of c
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CATEGORY 3: TEXTILE MANUFACTURE AND
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1983 SF BKC 4532(C), T229 F159. Pit
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SPINDLEWHORLS All in microfiche cat
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CATEGORY 4: HOUSEHOLD UTENSILS AND
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2041 SF BKC 2162, G47 Fll. Timber-l
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LAMPS Picture lamps All are in prin
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2120 SF LWC 3527(C), J1424 F180? Ro
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(Fig 86; 2146-2149) Bone inlay All
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CATEGORY 5: RECREATION Page 287 COU
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natural bone surface, this shape co
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formed by two converging strokes jo
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Pottery counters Counters with a gr
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abraded, especially the outer one.
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2338 SF BKC 844, A184 L3. Topsoil a
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2354 SF BKC 2678. HI L2. Topsoil. P
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2374 SF BKC 5332. T283 L67. Cellar
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Counters with no abraded surface bu
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2415 SF BKC 767. A unstratified. Wa
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2440 SF LWC 4080. Hi79 F49. Pit. Po
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counter is a rough. the graffito is
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later. 2471 SF BKC 411. A92 (L12),
Page 322 and 323:
(Fig 100; 2483-2495) Tile counters
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Page 315 CATEGORY 61 OBJECTS EMPLOY
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Page 317 CATEGORY 7! OBJECTS USED F
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STYLI All objects are copper-alloy
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Length 60.0 mm (distorted), 2541 SF
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edges. 2552 SF LWC 1061. A64. Topso
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2578 SF LWC 1335. E63. Topsoil over
Page 336 and 337:
2604 SF LWC 2504. J367. Period 4b d
Page 338 and 339:
2631-2 SF LWC 3108. K255 F126. Pit.
Page 340 and 341:
2659 SF BKC 311. A72 F16. Town ditc
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edge. 2684 SF BKC 5047. G392. Backf
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and dark purple marble. Veneer. 11.
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fragment. 2737 SF BKC 6051. V809 F2
Page 348 and 349:
2757 SFBUC 1395. A301 L1. Post-medi
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Purbeck marble. Veneer strip. 12.5
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Purbeck marble. Veneer. 44.5 mm thi
Page 354 and 355:
2844 SF CPS 967. 821 Ft 18. Robber
Page 356 and 357:
2882 SF BKC 1679(C), E601 F178 Pipe
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One-piece handles a) plain (Fig 110
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the remaining part. There are two r
Page 362 and 363:
(Fig 114? 2952-2972) HONES 2952 SF
Page 364 and 365:
(Fig 115;2973-2981) VARIOUS IRON TO
Page 366 and 367:
2993 SF LWC 2533. J476. Machine cle
Page 368 and 369:
Polygonal section shaft. Length 22.
Page 370 and 371:
With a flat head (Fig 117; 3051-308
Page 372 and 373:
Diameter of head 4.0 mm. Square sec
Page 374 and 375:
Probably originally flat. the centr
Page 376 and 377:
The head is partly folded over. Dia
Page 378 and 379:
Page 369 3172 SF BKC 3392» J200 F4
Page 380 and 381:
3198 SF CPS 712(C), 734 L101. Make-
Page 382 and 383:
Iron nails- and studs Page 373 Only
Page 384 and 385:
Page 375 3329 LWC B643 Period 1 Nai
Page 386 and 387:
Page 377 3397 LWC J508 F59 " Nail 1
Page 388 and 389:
Page 37? 3495 BKC A77 (L8) Anglo-Sa
Page 390 and 391:
Page 381 3611 BKC Hill F33 " Hail 1
Page 392 and 393:
Page 383 3687 BKC J43 L6 Probably P
Page 394 and 395:
Page 385 3803 BKC K557 LI22 Period
Page 396 and 397:
Page 387 3878 BKC N582 L96 Period 5
Page 398 and 399:
Page 389 3994 CPS 576 F115 " Hail 1
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All are of copper alloy. BOSSES Con
Page 402 and 403:
DOUBLE-SPIKED LOOPS Loops are coppe
Page 404 and 405:
In printed catalogue (Fig 128? 4075
Page 406 and 407:
(Fig 131; 4085-4097) HINGE FITTINGS
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BINDING All the pieces are of coppe
Page 410 and 411:
(Fig 136; 4130-4141) Lock-bolts 413
Page 412 and 413:
Keys of uncertain type (4157-4158)
Page 414 and 415:
Belt and apron fittings CATEGORY 13
Page 416 and 417:
Copper-alloy strap-loops Cavalry ha
Page 418 and 419:
Sword (Fig 153; 4227-4228) Arms 422
Page 420 and 421:
Sword Arms Both in printed catalogu
Page 422 and 423:
Page 413 CATEGORY 14: OBJECTS ASSOC
Page 424 and 425:
IRON COFFIN-FITTINGS All in printed
Page 426 and 427:
Page 417 CATEGORY 16: ANTLER-, HORN
Page 428 and 429:
4319) The sawn off proximal end of
Page 430 and 431:
Page 421 CATEGORY 17: OBJECTS ASSOC
Page 432 and 433:
shaped section. Internal diameter 1
Page 434 and 435:
copper-alloy wire double loop-in-lo
Page 436 and 437:
4458 SF BKC 4210. N143 F33. Pit. Pe
Page 438 and 439:
(4473-4600) SHEET COPPER ALLOY 4473
Page 440 and 441:
parallel edges. 19.5 by 10.5 mm. 45
Page 442 and 443:
Dimensions straightened out. 35.5 b
Page 444 and 445:
4558 SF CPS 730. 773 L108. Make-up.
Page 446 and 447:
ight angles. 31.5 by 26.0 mm. 4591
Page 448 and 449:
4646 SF BKC 5181. V287 L25. Dump. P
Page 450 and 451:
4669 SF LWC 3515. J140S F459. Pit.
Page 452 and 453:
(Figs 207 and 208? 4695-4743) MISCE
Page 454 and 455:
61.5 mm. 4733 SF BKC 5257. V595 L72
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Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds

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