Large turquoise melon bead - Roman Military - Newstead

Normally made from faience, a fused combination of crushed quartz and other components, the melon beads are found in military contexts in many excavations including those at Corbridge and Vindolanda.  Examples of these large melon beads can be seen in most museums associated with sites of Roman military occupation. 

The beads may have been some sort of signifier of rank or status, perhaps in the parlance of Time Team, 'high status objects of ritual significance' or HSoRS.  Or they could have been part of the military culture, the Roman equivalent of the dogtag.  There are almost as many theories as there are beads, but it does seem that the turquoise faience beads are extremely common in military contexts and there is also a line of thought that they are part of horse trappings, although what a horse is doing in the military baths where many of these beads are found is something no one seems to want to address.

Generally measuring from 18-22mm in diameter and varying in length, with an inner hole diameter of around 5mm, these beads are sizeable and substantial. As each bead is individual, they don't all have exactly the same dimensions, this particular bead is based on the reports from the site as a representative of one find.

Made in turquoise glass, they are an excellent reproduction of what the faience beads would have looked like when new.  Variations in colour are due to the content of colouring in the glass.  If you have a preference, please let us know if you wish a dark or medium turquoise blue.

The photograph shows the variations in diameter and height of beads from the sites named on the photo.  This listing is for the turquoise melons based on examples from the original reports of the finds at Newstead, illustrated in the finds report published in 1911. The report is titled A ROMAN FRONTIER POST AND ITS PEOPLE -The Fort of Newstead in the Parish of Melrose by JAMES CURLE, F.S.A. SCOT., F.S.A.  The original plate of the drawings of the beads is available online at the www.curlesnewstead.org.uk site.

 They are available in a dark or medium turquoise blue.  Please check the listings for the other available beads. 

The price of £8 is for one bead.  Please select which bead and colour you prefer from the choices in this listing.