South Shields vicus, glass sphere
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
Monument <By Form>
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
Site Type: Specific
Sphere
General Period
ROMAN
Specific Period
Roman 43 to 410
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
436400
Northing
567500
Grid Reference
NZ436400567500
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
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