STEELYARD 929475

Description: An incomplete cast copper alloy steelyard (scale with beam arms of unequal length) of Roman date c 1st to 2nd Century AD. The steelyard consists of a round sectioned arm (diameter c 4.35mm) with notch at the outer end where there is an early break. This may have been for the suspension of a cord with tray or hook for object being weighed. The arm then flattens into a rectangular section bar (2mm thick) extending from the lower edge of which is the stub of an integral circular loop and further along there is another, complete example (10mm in diameter), extending from the upper edge. The bar continues beyond this to another break. Dimensions: length 73.84mm; width 17.88mm; weight 7.65g. A similar steelyard has been recorded on the PAS database as DENO-859872. A complete steelyard, including balance pan but no weights, was recovered from the Boudican destruction deposits in Colchester and has been published as no. 2508 (Crummy, see below) See also WMID-049777 for an example with lead weight still attached. cf The Roman small finds from excavations in Colchester Crummy (1983) p100 fig 104 no 2508.

Date: 50 - 200

Object type: STEELYARD

Last import: September 22, 2022