Record ID: LON-E04B53
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Published
A complete Roman faience melon bead dating to the period c. AD 50 - 200. The bead is light blue in colour and has eighteen vertical grooves on the outer surface. The bead has a perforation with a diameter of 9.13mm. The interior surface exhibits a series of concentric grooves. Dimensions: diameter: 21.09mm; height: 13.77mm; weight: 4.47g Crummy (1995:30) writes "These beads are found in 1st- and 2nd-century contexts (Guido 1978, 100) and seem, on the evidence from our catalogue, to have been introduced into this country at the conquest. There is some slight indica…
Created on: Thursday 15th February 2024
Last updated: Tuesday 9th April 2024
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SF-FFF828
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Published
A complete Roman faience 'melon' bead. It is cylindrical in shape with rounded edges to both faces. Parallel, deep, transverse grooves are positioned around the sides. A circular hole, c.11mm in diameter, runs through the middle, slightly off centre. It has a dark greenish-yellow patina.  See Guido (1978, 100, Types 21 and 22) and Crummy (1983, fig. 32.520-1). Worrell (2015) suggests a 1st to 2nd century date for most. Length: 50.04mm, width: 20.38mm, thickness: 5.66mm, weight: 8.55g
Created on: Thursday 12th January 2023
Last updated: Tuesday 9th April 2024
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Mendham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: WILT-CE3006
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Swindon
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Two complete Roman to Early Medieval faience 'Melon' type beads dating to the period c. AD 43-550. The beads are both gadrooned (vertically ribbed). Neither bead shows signs of wear at the perforation, although there is some surface damage to the outer faces of each bead. Bead 1: The bead is spherical with a circular perforation at the top from which the bead is divided by twelve incised slightly irregular longitudinal ribs. The base of the bead is flat and the circular central perforation shows little sign of wear. The bead is mid to light brown in co…
Created on: Thursday 10th November 2022
Last updated: Friday 8th December 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LON-A24619
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A Roman faiance melon bead dating to the period c. AD 43 - 200. The bead is buff/grey core but retains some blue on the interior wall of the perforation. The bead has twenty one vertical grooves. The bead has a perforation with a diameter of 10.08mm. The interior surface exhibits a series of concentric grooves. Dimensions: diameter: 24.47mm; height: 16.23mm; weight: 8.73g Worrell (2015) states that faience melon beads "...are common finds on most Roman sites, although normally their occurrence is restricted to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. They are unknown in…
Created on: Tuesday 8th November 2022
Last updated: Thursday 10th November 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LIN-E9FC13
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a glass bead, probably a faience melon bead dating from the Roman to early medieval period c.AD 43-500. Only about 40% of the bead has survived. It is D-shaped in cross-section. The bead is blue grey with buff/grey core with the remains of an additional blue glass bead at one end. The remaining melon bead has six vertical grooves.  Length: 21.13 mm; Width: 16.96 mm; Thickness: 10.76 mm; Weight: 3.71g From LON-420673: Faience melon beads "...are common finds on most Roman sites, although normally their occurrence is restricted to the 1st and 2nd…
Created on: Tuesday 18th October 2022
Last updated: Friday 1st March 2024
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Nettleton', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: LON-420673
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete Roman faience melon bead dating to the period c. AD 43 - 200. The bead is blue grey with buff/grey core. The remaining bead has six vertical grooves.  Dimensions: height: 19.18mm; width: 17.94mm; weight: 22.80g Worrell (2015) states that faience melon beads "...are common finds on most Roman sites, although normally their occurrence is restricted to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. They are unknown in the Late Iron Age period. A description is provided in Guido (1978, 100, types 21 and 22) and also in Crummy (1983, fig. 32.520-1).&qu…
Created on: Tuesday 5th July 2022
Last updated: Thursday 14th July 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LON-CC4366
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete, approximately half a Roman faiance melon bead dating to the period c. AD 43 - 200. The bead is a buff/grey in colour with no blue remaining. The bead has nine parallel sloping grooves. The bead has a perforation with a diameter of 10.24mm. Dimensions: diameter: 23.30g; height: 16.74mm; weight: 4.92g Worrell (2015) states that faiance melon beads "...are common finds on most Roman sites, although normally their occurrence is restricted to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. They are unknown in the Late Iron Age period. A description is provided in Guido (1978, 100, …
Created on: Thursday 12th May 2022
Last updated: Monday 23rd May 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LON-8F32C9
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Published
A Roman faiance melon bead dating to the period c. AD 43 - 200. Bright blue with buff/grey core. The bead has eighteen vertical grooves. The bead has a perforation with a diameter of 7.83mm. The interior surface exhibits a series of concentric grooves. Worrell (2015) states that faience melon beads "...are common finds on most Roman sites, although normally their occurrence is restricted to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. They are unknown in the Late Iron Age period. A description is provided in Guido (1978, 100, types 21 and 22) and also in Crummy (1983, fig. 32.520-1)." See:…
Created on: Monday 8th November 2021
Last updated: Sunday 3rd July 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: GAT-F6083E
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Isle of Anglesey
Workflow stage: Published
A Roman melon bead in blue faience. The bead would have originally been sub-spherical when complete with a central circular aperture. Roughly half of the bead now remains, along with half of the aperture. The bead is decorated with raised vertical ribs as well as a well preserved glaze. The find likely dates from the mid-1st Century – mid 2nd Century AD.
Created on: Wednesday 1st September 2021
Last updated: Tuesday 15th February 2022
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Llannerch-y-Medd', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: LANCUM-732DAB
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Lancashire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Probably a Bronze Age turquoise green/blue faience annular bead. It is irregularly shaped, sub circular in plan and in section. There is no apparent decoration. To make it the the molten faience would have been twisted and rolled around a rod that would then be withdrawn leaving the central hole. Elizabeth Foulds says that the bead is not distinctly Iron Age or Roman but if it is faience then Bronze Age is a possibility. If faience it may well have been manufactured in Egypt as the bead has a colour and surface texture typical of that area's beads and ushabti figurines. Though not pos…
Created on: Monday 28th October 2019
Last updated: Thursday 17th December 2020
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'near Cottam', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: NMS-1E51AD
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Fragment of Roman faiance melon bead dating to the period c. AD 43 - 200. Bright blue with buff/grey core. Seven surviving, slightly curved vertical grooves. Slightly worn at perforation and across exterior surface. The interior surface exhibits a series of concentric grooves. Worrell (2015) states that faiance melon beads "...are common finds on most Roman sites, although normally their occurrence is restricted to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. They are unknown in the Late Iron Age period. A description is provided in Guido (1978, 100, types 21 and 22) and also in Crummy (1983, fig…
Created on: Thursday 25th October 2018
Last updated: Friday 4th January 2019
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Sporle with Palgrave', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SWYOR-70C99B
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: North Yorkshire
Workflow stage: Published
A complete Roman "melon" bead made from faience. The surface is worn and encrusted, but the turquoise colour can still be seen. The bead is sub-spherical. It is decorated with 21 raised vertical ribs, some oblique. The central aperture has an internal diameter of 6.8mm. The bead is Roman, probably dating from the 1st to 2nd century AD. A close parallel is known from Castleford (West Yorkshire Archaeology Service, 1998, page 185, no.55). Melon beads form just under half of the total number of beads found in Castleford. Examples of faience are much more common than those of transluc…
Created on: Wednesday 2nd September 2015
Last updated: Tuesday 20th March 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: FAKL-73BCE4
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: Bradford
Workflow stage: Published
Possible bead made from pale grey silica frit with a very open texture: faience? Cylindrical with circumferential ribbing around exterior. The interior also bears circumferential ribbing which resembles a screw thread but does not appear to be helical. No trace of glazing. Length 5.6mm, Outside diameter 8.2mm, Inside diameter 3.5mm, Mass 0.30g
Created on: Tuesday 11th June 2013
Last updated: Monday 20th January 2014
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Ilkley Moor', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: KENT-2FAF11
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a blue faience melon bead of probable Roman date. The bead is an extended annular shape with centre regular hole; the bead has been constructed by trailing glass, which can be seen in the interior of the hole. The surface of the bead has been decorated with 9 indented linear grooves. The fragment consists of half of the bead which has been broken away by an old break along the length of the hole. These beads are usually dated from 50-200 AD as manufacture date but they are reused into the Early Medieval period. The fragment is 13.3mm long, 7.2mm wide, 1.2mm thick and …
Created on: Wednesday 28th September 2011
Last updated: Monday 10th October 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Priddy', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: HESH-57EFA1
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: County of Herefordshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Fragment of a faience melon bead of Roman date (50-200 AD). The bead is irregular in plan and cross section. Originally it would probably have been sub-oval shape in plan with a central hole. The outer edge of the bead is flat and polished although the colour differs between dark and light transverse bands. The bead is may have been covered with a turquoise glaze; this has mostly been removed by abrasion. The fabric of the bead is crystalline in places and appears uneven under magnification. The fragment measures 17.5mm length, 12.1mm width, is 5.2mm thick and weighs 1.16 grams. Sally…
Created on: Thursday 21st May 2009
Last updated: Thursday 5th April 2018
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Weston Under Penyard', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: LANCUM-BD2778
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Cumbria
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Faience melon bead dating to 1st to 2nd century AD.
Created on: Thursday 27th September 2007
Last updated: Wednesday 8th October 2014
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Maryport', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: DENO-943191
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Nottinghamshire
Workflow stage: Published
Roman bead; Large turquoise faience 'melon' bead of 1st or 2nd century date. Spherical bead, flattened at top and bottom and pierced through with a large, cylindrical hole. The bead has ridges running from top to bottom and has a pale turquoise-green glaze over its surface. There is a small area chipped away from one end, around the mouth of the hole. Height 14.8mm, diameter (across the middle of the bead) 17.9mm, weight 4.03g
Created on: Thursday 13th September 2007
Last updated: Friday 19th October 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SOMDOR-18CDC1
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Just under half of an globular faience bead of early Roman date. The turquoise melon bead measures 15.6mm in height and weighs 2.07g. Its current (incomplete) diameter is 16.9mm. The moulded segments on the external surface of the bead are slightly diagonal. Similar beads have been found in contexts dating from the 1st to 2nd century AD (Crummy 1983, p. 30).
Created on: Friday 9th March 2007
Last updated: Monday 13th October 2014
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Buckland Dinham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SWYOR-6EFFA6
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Doncaster
Workflow stage: Published
A complete melon bead made from faience. The surface is worn but traces of the turquoise glaze survive. The bead is sub-spherical, 23mm diameter and 21mm high. It is decorated with 21 raised vertical ribs. The central aperture has an internal diameter of 6.7mm. The bead is Roman, probably 1st to 2nd century AD. A close parallel is known from Castleford (West Yorkshire Archaeology Service, 1998, page 185, no.55). Melon beads form just under half of the total number of beads found in Castleford. Examples of frit are much more common than those of translucent blue glass. They were used i…
Created on: Friday 24th November 2006
Last updated: Sunday 3rd July 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: HESH-7976E0
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: ROMAN
County: County of Herefordshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Fragment of a faience melon bead of Roman date (50-200 AD). The bead is irregular in plan and cross section. Originally it would probably have been sub-oval shape in plan with a central hole. The outer edge of the bead would have been ridged or grooved; a number of these grooves survive on the fragment. The bead is covered with a bright turquoise glaze; this seems to have been applied to the whole bead but has been lost in a number of places due to abrasion. The glaze itself is crystalline in places and appears uneven under magnification. Where this glaze has been removed a pale blue/…
Created on: Thursday 20th April 2006
Last updated: Monday 13th October 2014
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Withington area', grid reference and parish protected.