STEELYARD 904326

Description: An incomplete cast copper alloy steelyard (scale with beam arms of unequal length), of Roman period, probably dating between 1st and 2nd Century AD. Only the arm survives which is in three pieces. The steelyard is composed by longitudinal arm with notched calibratrions which is circular shape in cross-section and measures c. 270mm in length. On end of the arm widens into a circular knop (22.15mm in diameter) while the other extends into a rectangular shape plate with three holes for the attachement of the objects and weights. The plate measures 74.65mm in length and 21.55mm in width. The calibrations on the long arm can be divided in two graduated scale, one on the top and one on the bottom of it.The frist one shows six different notches placed at regular distances from each other. At the end of the arm, just above the circular knop is a single asterisk. The second scale is composed by a combination of notches and dots close to each other and completly covering the arm. The rectangular plate shows small knops and notches on both long sides, probably liked with the weighting activities. The three holes are aligned and have different sizes. Similar steelyards have been recorded on the PAS database as WMID-049777 and LIN-DD9997. Other similar steelyards are illustrated by Crummy, N. (1983), p. 100 and date to the 1th century AD.

Date: 41 - 200

Object type: STEELYARD

Last import: September 22, 2022