Record ID: SUR-0D9B4E
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Milton Keynes
Workflow stage: Published
An elongated olivate terminal, 4.2mm in diameter, with a narrow stem of 1.8mm diameter which ends in a break. There are no markings or decoration. Probably from a spatula probe or spathomele dating to the Roman period.
Created on: Monday 5th February 2024
Last updated: Tuesday 6th February 2024
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-1DC6E6
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of copper alloy possible medical or cosmetic probe or other implement. A sub-cylindrical length of copper alloy. Both ends terminate in old breaks and the object is bent at one end. The object is solid with a sub-circular cross section, tapering towards the bent end. The breaks at either end are rough.  Date: Possibly Roman - c. AD 50 - 400 Dimensions: 69.96 mm x 5.19 mm x 4.92 mm Weight: 7.51 g
Created on: Friday 3rd March 2023
Last updated: Wednesday 29th March 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LON-6F008A
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Incomplete Post Medieval leather eye patch c.AD16th-18th century. Oval leather patch with holes pierced through the leather on opposite sides of the oval, with remains of the leather tie strap. There is a small crease on the front side of the patch. The tie on the right side of the patch has a knot in it, the remains of the strap on the right is small with frayed ends. The leather is dark brown in colour with staining on the front of the patch. The patch has curled slightly, distorting its shape. Museum of London Curator Jackie Keily has suggested a later date for the leatherwork towa…
Created on: Thursday 26th November 2015
Last updated: Tuesday 3rd May 2016
No spatial data available.

Record ID: WILT-DD0299
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Wiltshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An almost complete copper alloy Roman stylus, medical implement or toilet implement, dating to c. AD 43-410. The object consists of a cylindircal shaft with two differing terminals. Each of which broadens and flattens to form a tapering, rectangular plate. One terminal has a projecting sub-rectangular strip which curves to form a sharp, pointed hook. The other terminal appears to be damaged and now consists of the flattened plate which has been bent horizontally to form a 90 degree angle. The damaged plate has an uneven projection and the original shape is uncertain. Each of th…
Created on: Thursday 21st May 2015
Last updated: Thursday 11th June 2015
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: BM-2D5D3D
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Darlington
Workflow stage: Published
An iron object, possibly a spatula or probe dating to the Roman period. The object possesses a circular-section stem which tapers at one end to a point. At the other, the pin flattens and widens slightly to form the head. It measures 97mm in length, with the stem having a diameter of 3mm. The head has a width of 4mm. BM-2D5D3D may be a small spatula/probe of the simplest type (Riha, 1986, Variant H). A similar object comes from Augst (Riha, 1986, Taf. 54, 603), whilst a spear-tipped example comes from Colchester (Crummy, 1983, fig. 68, 1950), although both of these are copper-alloy…
Created on: Thursday 18th December 2014
Last updated: Wednesday 27th February 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: BM-1F4A48
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Darlington
Workflow stage: Published
A complete copper-alloy spatula probe or spathomele dating to the Roman period. At one end, the article possesses an elongated olivate terminal. This extends to a circular-section stem, which broadens towards its mid-point. At this mid-point, the stem is decorated with three circumferential grooves, which creates two cells. Within these cells, the stem is decorated with a series of diagonal grooves. Beyond these cells, the stem narrows before terminating in a flat, tongue-shaped plate with a small, triangular collar. The object has a length of 189mm. The flat tongue-shaped plate at on…
Created on: Thursday 11th September 2014
Last updated: Wednesday 27th February 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: HAMP-59BD53
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Hampshire
Workflow stage: Published
A cast copper-alloy object, broken and damaged: possibly a Roman medical implement, an olivary (spoon-)probe. The olive is an elongated oval terminal of circular cross-section, c. 24.6mm long, up to 4.7mm in diameter. The shaft continues circular in cross-section, bent round and back on itself; the terminal bent slightly to one side, all presumably as an element of old damage. The patina is mid/dark-green where it has not been corroded. The piece is comparable to two such probes illustrated in Bishop (1996, 39; refs. 211, 212).
Created on: Thursday 4th July 2013
Last updated: Saturday 8th March 2014
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Chilcomb CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: WILT-718FB2
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Wiltshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A cast copper-alloy Roman surgical instrument. The instrument resembles ear scoops from the same period, but it has been suggested that this instrument was used to help apply ointment to wounds. Crummy described them as 'spoon-probes' and states that they are not a common site find for Britain, 'they were employed not only as surgeon's curettes or sounds but also as toilet spoons in general' (Crummy, p60-1). She suggested they could have been used to extract cosmetics from containers or to apply or removed make-up. Ralph Jackson details similar examples in Jackson, 1986 fig 4 number 3…
Created on: Friday 6th July 2012
Last updated: Saturday 7th July 2012
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Hindon', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: CAM-44E605
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Milton Keynes
Workflow stage: Published
A complete copper-alloy medical implement of Romano-British date. This artefact is a ligula and seems to be complete despite having been bent in three places. The ligula consists of a small flat circular disc, 5.41mm wide, 5.70mm in length and 1.24mm thick, at the end of a long gradually tapering circular sectioned shaft with a short length of moulded decoration off centre between the two ends. The circular disc has a rectangular cross-section. This disc is subtly angled rather than being in exactly the same plane as the rest of the artefact, although it has not been possible to deter…
Created on: Sunday 22nd April 2012
Last updated: Tuesday 8th July 2014
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Milton Keynes District Area', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: LANCUM-6AF378
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Lancashire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Perhaps a fragment of a Roman Ligula 1st to 4th century AD. It was used for extracting ointment, balsams, and powders from tubes and boxes. The ligula is not, strictly speaking, a surgical instrument, although it was used by physicians for applying medicament to affected areas on the body. The object is bent over to a point before tapering, flattening and terminating. Possibly used by a surgeon or for mixing paint or cosmetics. Similar to LANCUM-BC7F31. The object could as an alternative be a later Medieval brooch pin. The length is 70mm and width 5mm.
Created on: Wednesday 20th July 2011
Last updated: Monday 25th July 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'WESHAM', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: LANCUM-E2F0A1
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Lancashire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Perhaps a fragment of a Roman Ligula 1st to 4th century AD. It was used for extracting ointment, balsams, and powders from tubes and boxes. The ligula is not, strictly speaking, a surgical instrument, although it was used by physicians for applying medicament to affected areas on the body. The object is bent over to a point before tapering, flattening and terminating. Possibly used by a surgeon or for mixing paint or cosmetics. Similar to LANCUM-BC7F31. The object could as an alternative be a later Medieval brooch pin. The diameter is 80mm, thickness 4mm and the weight is 8g.
Created on: Tuesday 7th June 2011
Last updated: Monday 15th August 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'MEDLAR WITH WESHAM', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SUSS-05BC17
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: East Sussex
Workflow stage: Published
Finely moulded copper-alloy nose with two pointed-oval nostril slits at the base and a flattened rim around the top and sides. There are broken circular attachment holes at the top and at the centre of each side and a groove, which appears to be caused by wear, across the top. In plan it appears slightly curved, with the sides projecting back slightly more than the middle. The reverse is hollow and well finished. It is 45.3mm long, 36.9mm wide and 23.7mm deep, and weighs 37.94g. Photographs of the nose have been examined by curators at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, who do not…
Created on: Monday 8th February 2010
Last updated: Thursday 12th July 2012
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Beddingham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: NLM-64BE33
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: North Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Copper alloy. Possible surgical implement or tool. Tapered rod of effectively square section, blunt at one end, and narrowing to a point, now sharply bent, at the other. Lengrth: 62.27mm, Width: 4.38mm, Thickness: 4.44mm. Weight: 4.7gms.
Created on: Wednesday 2nd December 2009
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Old Winteringham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: KENT-8B34F5
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
1st-4th Century. Copper alloy, cast, broken handle with decorative terminal from a spoon, pin, surgical, medical or dental instrument. Length 46.2mm, Width 5.5mm, Thickness 5.3mm, Diameter 5.4mm, Weight 2.2g. Attractive decorative terminal or finial knop with two collars, one of rounded form, the other narrow type, followed by an expanding and then tapering, pointed end. The terminal and broken shaft have a circular cross-section. The shaft slighty distorted and the surface corrosion aggravated by the stress of the bend, otherwise a mottled green patina. Ref. Ancient Brooches and Other…
Created on: Monday 29th June 2009
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NMS-4157A2
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A handle, possibly from a medical implement, perhaps a scalpel, consisting of an octagon-sectioned shank with incised transverse lines at the slotted end, and broken across a possible transverse perforation with iron staining on the inner faces (slot >4mm) from missing inserted iron blade, terminal with dot in end, rectangular-sectioned baluster, twin ribs, baluster, single rib. >65mm x 5mm. Cf. octagonally-facetted handles from a scalpel/dissector, see broadly similar types (with leaf-shaped terminals) in Jackson (1986), 'A set of Roman medical instruments from Italy', Britannia 17: …
Created on: Friday 8th May 2009
Last updated: Friday 24th September 2021
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Burgh Castle', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: LON-DC6096
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A Post Medieval – Modern ivory terminal with a screw thread (18th – 19th century). The object is domed on one side with a concave, polished surface on the other. The domed surface has a central pit with a screw thread. This may possibly be part of a medical instrument, for example the plunger on a syringe. Dimensions: diameter: 20.32mm; length: mm; width: mm; thickness: 9.01mm; weight: 2.89g.
Created on: Tuesday 22nd April 2008
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'City of London', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: NMS-8801B7
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Romano-British handle, possibly from a medical implement, perhaps a scalpel, octagon-sectioned shank with faces decorated with pairs of longitudinal lines of tiny punched dots alternating with blank faces. The shank tapers slightly towards one end with corroded remains of inserted iron blade visible in end and short slot in base (length 13mm), damaged expanded terminal with lozengiform facets and engraved lines on lower edge of median lozenges forming running zig-zag motif. Cf. Jackson, R. 1986. ‘A set of Roman medical instruments from Italy’, Britannia 17: 119-67, fig.1.
Created on: Monday 13th November 2006
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Scarning', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: NCL-8CD556
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Darlington
Workflow stage: Published
An incomplete copper-alloy spatulate probe dating to the Roman period. The fragment comprises the spatulate head and part of a circular-section stem. The spatula is flat and tongue-shaped and tapers slightly. Only a fragment of the circular-section stem remains. This appears to curve away at right angles to the spatula. Where the stem meets the spatula, there are two circumferential ribs and a globular moulding. The spatula measures 62mm in length and 10mm in width. It weighs 5 grams. Spatulas, like this example, 'often form one end of a double-ended instrument, for example the spatho…
Created on: Tuesday 10th August 2004
Last updated: Wednesday 27th February 2019
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Near Darlington', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: NCL-DC5CC1
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Darlington
Workflow stage: Published
An incomplete copper-alloy medical or pharmaceutical spatula, dating to the Roman period. The spatula has a circular-section shaft which expands to a waisted leaf-shaped blade. The blade is lentoidal in section. The spatula measures 69mm in length and has a maximum width of 15mm. The blade has a thickness of 3mm. The object weighs 9.9 grams. Spatulas, like this example, 'often form one end of a double-ended instrument, for example the spathomele, or spatula-probe and the scalpel, the handle of which can carry a leaf-shaped spatula. The spathomele was generally used for pharmaceutical …
Created on: Wednesday 2nd June 2004
Last updated: Wednesday 27th February 2019
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Near Darlington', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: NCL-42DCF2
Object type: MEDICAL IMPLEMENT
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Darlington
Workflow stage: Published
A copper-alloy spatula probe or spathomele dating to the Roman period. The stem is circular in section; where the stem meets the spatulate blade, it is decorated with two waisted discs and a bead moulding; the spatulate blade is flat and is an elongated oval shape. It measures 48.53mm in length and 9.4mm in width. At the other end, the shaft expands to an elongated bulbous probe. It weighs 5.3 grams. The spathomele was generally used for pharmaceutical purposes, such as mixing and applying ointments (Crummy 1983, 63).
Created on: Wednesday 8th October 2003
Last updated: Wednesday 27th February 2019
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Darlington area', grid reference and parish protected.