If used in combat those balls would have been the first thing to break.
Roman military men often took local wives and raised their families at or near the camps. Romans lived in Britain for 200 years. The state of preservation of the devices implies domestic use and care. Also on the map they only appear in northern climates though the Roman military world extended around the Mediterranean and beyond. They are perfectly designed for knitting different sized tubes for gloves and small socks, items too small to easily knit with needles.
I wish these photographs had a ruler or coin to give us a better sense of their size.
Fascinating article, thanks.
I’ve read that some of these have been found along with coins.
Could they have been used to check the sizes of coins? Or to check whether they had not been clipped.
Might a variety of measurements be needed to cover other currencies in different countries?
The “feet” would hold them steady with different openings at the top as appropriate?
Has anyone tried rolling them?
Find the consistency of it landing on a particular side.
If there is even enough chance to land on a certain side or a scale order to the likely hood of landing on sides then it would probably be safe to say it was a gambling tool, probably one of greater value than other means.
I’ve enjoyed puzzling over these for a few months. After a lot of research I’ve found this aspect the most important:
They’re made of bronze, but found in coin hoards. That’s where people stashed money, silver spoons, and jewelry. Bronze was typically used for utilitarian things, not valuables. It would be like a present-day person putting something made of steel into a safety deposit box. Sure, it could still be valuable, but it’s unlikely to be something like a fishing weight or measuring tool.
So, while pondering a theory, I always ask, “Why would someone hide that with a bunch of coins?”
Multi tool. If some were found with coin hoards it might be an item to gauge coins. To ensure some of the coins still had enough roundness to it’s emperor. Then some might have used the holes to gauge someone’s finger to then to make a ring. Some might have played a high, low gambling game with it. Bigger the hole greater the reward. Others might have used it for knitting
Just a thought. Maybe used by throwing with a Roman slingshot to confuse the enemy by making sound like whiffle ball. They would by design create a very loud disrupting noise flying over the heads of the enemy if slung by numerus warriors in a volley towards the enemy. If on would hit you it would be sure to leave a mark.
Fascinating. Given the many military locations it would be logical to assume some at least had a military purpose.
If used in combat those balls would have been the first thing to break.
Roman military men often took local wives and raised their families at or near the camps. Romans lived in Britain for 200 years. The state of preservation of the devices implies domestic use and care. Also on the map they only appear in northern climates though the Roman military world extended around the Mediterranean and beyond. They are perfectly designed for knitting different sized tubes for gloves and small socks, items too small to easily knit with needles.
I wish these photographs had a ruler or coin to give us a better sense of their size.
Fascinating article, thanks.
I’ve read that some of these have been found along with coins.
Could they have been used to check the sizes of coins? Or to check whether they had not been clipped.
Might a variety of measurements be needed to cover other currencies in different countries?
The “feet” would hold them steady with different openings at the top as appropriate?
Birth control/
Has anyone tried rolling them?
Find the consistency of it landing on a particular side.
If there is even enough chance to land on a certain side or a scale order to the likely hood of landing on sides then it would probably be safe to say it was a gambling tool, probably one of greater value than other means.
They are used for laying out or determining angles for building or land survey.
I’ve enjoyed puzzling over these for a few months. After a lot of research I’ve found this aspect the most important:
They’re made of bronze, but found in coin hoards. That’s where people stashed money, silver spoons, and jewelry. Bronze was typically used for utilitarian things, not valuables. It would be like a present-day person putting something made of steel into a safety deposit box. Sure, it could still be valuable, but it’s unlikely to be something like a fishing weight or measuring tool.
So, while pondering a theory, I always ask, “Why would someone hide that with a bunch of coins?”
Multi tool. If some were found with coin hoards it might be an item to gauge coins. To ensure some of the coins still had enough roundness to it’s emperor. Then some might have used the holes to gauge someone’s finger to then to make a ring. Some might have played a high, low gambling game with it. Bigger the hole greater the reward. Others might have used it for knitting
used to hold tent poles togeather in corners .. knobs to tie rope or to fasten holes in tent fabric
Just a thought. Maybe used by throwing with a Roman slingshot to confuse the enemy by making sound like whiffle ball. They would by design create a very loud disrupting noise flying over the heads of the enemy if slung by numerus warriors in a volley towards the enemy. If on would hit you it would be sure to leave a mark.