Casgliadau Arlein

This shale gaming counter is a simple round disc with a slight wedge shape to it. There is slight damage to the thinner edge of the disc. The surface is rough with trim marks from where it was cut into shape. It's not been polished or decorated any further.

Discs like this were often used as counters in games. The first purpose made gaming counters were introduced into Britain during the Roman era, but these are normally made from cermaic or glass. Shale counters like this are very uncommon in the Roman era, but examples of stone counters have been found from the Early Medieval. The context this counter was found in site SMR 19 was broadly Early Medieval, but with many Roman era arterfacts mixed into ditch cuts. Literature from both Roman and Early Medieval Welsh sources describe board games