Five flint tools for turning shale and one "Kimmeridge penny" of shale

Made:
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Five flint tools for turning shale and one Kimmeridge penny' of

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Five flint tools for turning shale and one Kimmeridge penny' of
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Five flint tools for turning shale and one "Kimmeridge penny" of shale, of Roman date

At Kimmeridge in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, shale was used in Roman times for making such objects as cups, bracelets, buttons, and spindle-whorls. The perforated disc is an example of a turned whorl used with a wooden spindle for spinning.

The turning tools were provided with flint tips.

The other disc is a waste centre which has resulted from a lathe turning process. Many of these have been found and were at one time thought to have been coins and consequently were known as Kimmeridge Pennies.

Details

Category:
Hand and Machine Tools
Object Number:
1952-453
type:
tools
credit:
Howgrave-Graham, Robert Pickersgill