Medieval notebook
We can see Latin, scratched into the book’s wax 700-800 years ago. What is it? This well-preserved medieval ‘notebook’ dates to the 13th or 14th century. Measuring 10cm by 7.5cm, the book
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Finds Tray: Lead toy figurine
This is a small toy figurine dating to between AD 1550 and 1700, recently found by a metal-detectorist near Azerley in North Yorkshire. Measuring approximately 4cm by 2cm (1.6in by 0.8in) and
Counterpoise of a menat-necklace naming Taharqa
Campbell Price describes a symbolic votive object from the Twenty-fifth Dynasty.
Finds Tray – Roman brooch
This is a Roman brooch made of copper alloy and dating to c.AD 60-100. It was recently found by a metal-detectorist on cultivated land near Sleaford in Lincolnshire, and has been designated
Shark-tooth blades
What are they? Each of these two modified tiger shark teeth was once part of a handled knife. They were found in contexts dated to 7,000-5,000 years ago, associated with the Toalean
Finds tray – Medieval ampulla
This is a medieval ampulla, probably dating to c.1350-1500, that was recently found near Titchmarch in Northamptonshire. It is made of lead and has a bulbous body that tapers into an inverted
Hypocephalus
What was the purpose of this small disc of cartonnage, now in the British Museum? Dr Campbell Price explains.
Finds tray: Roman tortoise
This is a Roman tortoise or turtle figurine that was recently found by a metal-detectorist near Wickham Skeith in Suffolk. Cast in copper-alloy, it has a flat base with no evidence of
Neolithic necklace
What is it? This impressive necklace from a Neolithic child burial is composed of over 2,500 beads, made from three varieties of stones, four types of mollusc shells, and – in the
Finds Tray: Early medieval brooch
This is an early medieval brooch made from a gilded silver penny, which was found over a year ago by a metal-detectorist in Wiltshire. It was recently acquired by the Wiltshire Museum
The bust of a Ptolemaic Pharaoh
For this issue, Dr Campbell Price examines a sculpture in the Brooklyn Museum whose original purpose is unclear.
Finds Tray – Eprouvette
This unusual object was recently found in a garden near Boldre in the New Forest. While its function was a bit of a mystery when the finder first brought it to the
Inscribed amphora fragment
What is it? This small sherd of pottery, measuring 6cm wide and 8cm long, comes from the lower part of a Roman amphora once used to hold olive oil. The fragment bears
Finds tray – Medieval seal matrix
This is a medieval seal matrix found by a metal-detectorist in the parish of Lockerley, Hampshire. It is made of cast copper-alloy and most likely dates to between 1470 and 1520. Measuring
Stela of Lady Taperet
For this issue, Dr Campbell Price chooses a beautifully painted object from the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Finds tray: Early Bronze Age pin
This is a unique early Bronze Age pin, made from the first phalanx (or toe-bone) of a golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). It is the only example ever found in a Bronze Age
Gold bracteate
What is it? This gold pendant, known to specialists as a bracteate, is 5cm in diameter and comes from a Danish hoard dated to the 6th century AD – the object itself
Finds tray – Neolithic flint chisel
This unusual stone tool was recently discovered in a back garden in Hastings, East Sussex. It is a Neolithic polished flint chisel, or possibly axehead, that appears to have been reworked into
Ivory label of King Den: From the William MacGregor Collection
Dr Campbell Price examines a tiny artefact in the British Museum
that names one of Egypt’s earliest pharaohs.
Finds tray – Roman finger ring
This Roman finger ring with an engraved intaglio was discovered by a metal-detectorist near Chelmsford in Essex and was recently declared treasure. This style of intaglio is known as a Henig Type
Vietnamese stringed instrument
What is it? This object, thought to be at least 2,000 years old, is believed to be a stringed musical instrument. The artefact is made from a single piece of deer antler
Finds tray – Roman lion brooch
This is a copper-alloy brooch that was discovered in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, in March. It dates to the later Roman period, sometime during the 3rd century AD. The body of the lion
Terracotta female figurine from el Ma’mariya
In this issue, Dr Campbell Price describes an intriguing Predynastic artefact in the Brooklyn Museum.