Rights Holder: Birmingham Museums Trust
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
SCALPEL
Unique ID: WAW-39F221
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An incomplete copper-alloy and iron Roman Jackson type I scalpel dating from the 1st - 4th centuries. The blade and leaf shaped blunt dissector tool are missing, only the rectangular grip survives (Length 35.9mm, Width 10.7mm). The end of the grip with the key hole socket has two rolled back terminals, a fragment of the iron tang still survives within the key hole socket (Diameter 2.25mm). The rectangular block tapers to the old break where the leaf shaped terminal is now lost. The artefact has a deep green patina with lighter patches of mid-green visible. Three similar examples can be seen in Jackson, 1987 fig 1 - 3.
The artefact is 47.3mm in length, 9.1mm in width, 10.7mm thick and weighs 25.2 grams.
Find of note status
This is a find of note and has been designated: Potential for inclusion in Britannia
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 41
Date to: Circa AD 410
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 47.3 mm
Width: 9.1 mm
Thickness: 10.7 mm
Weight: 25.2 g
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: 4274
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Iron
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: East Midlands (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Lincolnshire (County)
District: East Lindsey (District)
To be known as: Wragby
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, R. | 1986 | A set of Roman medical instruments from Italy | 122 | 1-3 |
Similar objects
Find number: SF-97C5D2
Object type: SCALPEL
Broadperiod: ROMAN
An incomplete cast copper-alloy scalpel handle dating to the Roman period, c. 50-200 AD. It consists of a rectangular grip demonstrating roll…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: HAMP564
Object type: SCALPEL
Broadperiod: ROMAN
Scalpel handle. Long, slender, square-sectioned handle. Iron rivet where blade would have been attached to handle. Raised grip at this point …
Workflow: Published
Find number: NMS-4157A2
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broadperiod: ROMAN
A handle, possibly from a medical implement, perhaps a scalpel, consisting of an octagon-sectioned shank with incised transverse lines at the…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618