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Roman bone spatulate strip
These artefacts have been illustrated and found in association with writing equipment and this example may have a small patch of ink or other, black, staining? They are interpreted variously, as possible rulers or wax smoothing spatulas for smoothing the wax of wax writing tablets, reading aids, etc. See Willi, A. 2021 Manual of Everyday Roman Writing, Volume 2: Writing Equpiment, The Latin Now Project (ERC), pp103-4, and especially see Davis, G.J.C., 2016. Bone Spatulate Strips from Roman London. Lucerna 51, 6-12. The artefact was probably flat backed, (now longitudinally convex due to shrinkage) and has a highly polished surface, and bevelled edges with an 'eyelet' at the top, possibly for suspension. The side opposite the suspension loop is curved and bevelled (a possible working edge of the implement). The polished convex, 'upper', surface exhibits possible wear through use in the form of transverse cuts and scratches.
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Site Name: Endowed Junior School, Caerleon
Notes: Context 275 is a Roman road surface overlain by charcoal.