South Shields vicus, glass sphere

HER Number:
923

District:
S Tyneside

Site Name:
South Shields vicus, glass sphere

Place:
South Shields

Map Sheet:
NZ36NE

Class:

Site Type: Broad:

Site Type: Specific:
Sphere

General Period:
Roman

Specific Period:

Form of Evidence:
Find

Description:
Black, opaque glass sphere, slightly flatter on one face where the ball has been detached from the rod during manufacture. Measuring 38 mm x 35 mm. Came to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle in the Blair collection, labelled as found in Cleveland Street in c. 1877 with a mortarium of mid/late Antonine date. J.D. Cowen believed it to be Roman, and identified it as a linen-smoother. Lindsay Allason-Jones reckons it could have had other functions, e.g. grinding medicines or pigments, and states that similar objects, either with handles or bun-shaped, have been found on Viking and medieval sites.

Easting:
364

Northing:
675

Grid Reference:
NZ364675

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 923 >> J.D. Cowen, 1935, A Roman Glass Linen-smoother, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 4, VI (for 1933-34), p. 355-7 J.P. Wild, 1970, Textile Manufacture in the Northern Roman Provinces, pp. 15 and 85, fig. 76. L. Allason-Jones & R. Miket, 1984, The Catalogue of Small Finds from South Shields Roman Fort, Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, Monograph, No.4.54 P.T. Bidwell, 1988, The Civilian Settlement...of the Roman Fort at South Shields, no. 9