2011-02-18 09:44:06 Kate Sumnall ksumnall 2012-03-27 10:59:00 Helen Geake hgeake LON-E3F661 NEEDLE HOLDER A Roman - Early Medieval bone artefact probably a needlecase daring 4th - 5th century. This bone artefact has been worked to have four flat sides creating a square-shaped cross-section and it is hollow. It tapers from 6.36mm slightly to one end (5.58mm) and more so to the other end (4.17mm). There is wear and damage to both ends. All four sides are decorated with ring and dot motifs. Side one has four sets of three ring and dots arranged to form a trefoil. Side two has two ring and dot trefoils flanked by three ring and dots arranged in a line. Side three is a repeat of side one. Side four has four sets of three ring and dots arranged in lines. Dr Ian Riddler identified this as a needlecase and writes "Not a common object type....but a very very interesting one. The closest parallels for it come from the Continent and are of 4th to 5th century date (mainly 5th century). These things are quite widespread in the north German cremation cemeteries of that date (like Westerwanna and Issendorf, for example) and they are thought to be needle cases. By rights, they ought to appear at Spong Hill, but they don't and they are very rare in this country." Identification by Dr Ian Riddler, Small Finds Specialist, specialising in Roman artefacts and tools manufactured from bone. Dimensions: length: 64.05mm; width: 6.36mm; weight: 2.57g. A Roman - Early Medieval bone artefact probably a needlecase daring 4th - 5th century. This bone artefact has been worked to have four flat sides creating a square-shaped cross-section and it is hollow. It tapers from 6.36mm slightly to one end (5.58mm) and more so to the other end (4.17mm).... Animal skeletal material Hand made EARLY MEDIEVAL ROMAN Late EARLY MEDIEVAL Early 300 500 6.36 64.05 Geometric Fair Incomplete 2011-02-18 09:44:06 GREATER LONDON SOUTHWARK SOUTHWARK POINT( ) TQ38SW TQ3280 29.06.2003 Other chance find 1 LON Creative Commons Non Commercial Share Alike - The Portable Antiquities Scheme 2011 These records can be reproduced in a non commercial enviroment as long as the original recorder is cited. The Portable Antiquities Scheme info@finds.org.uk No fees are applicable.