Casgliadau Arlein

Sheep's metacarpus with a circular hole drilled transversely through the centre of the shaft. Such implements are descrived by Wild (1970, 34) as bobbins although Curle suggested that they were dress-fasteners and Houby preferred to regard them as toys (see Mac Gregor 1985, pp 102-3) Wild stated that he knew of none outside Britain and that few, if any, belong to the Roman period within the province. They seem to be purely native. There are, however, two examples known from Zugmantel (ORL 8, Taf XX, Nos 91, 92) and they are becoming increasingly common finds on Roman military sides in Britain. Examples have been found during recent excavations at Piercebride, Corbridge, South Shields, Wallsend and House steads forts but none so far from the native settlement sites on either side of Hadrian's Wall. Condition: broken at one end.