Styli

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A stylus is a needle-like implement for writing, often used on wax tablets. The sharp end was used to write with, the blunt to rub out mistakes. These iron examples were found at the site of the Roman fort at Newstead in Roxburghshire.

Iron stylus from Newstead

Iron styli are simpler in form than bronze ones. They had to be forged individually, making ornamentation much more difficult and time-consuming. Some iron styli from Newstead probably contained a separately fitted point, perhaps of agate.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-001-199-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FRA 706
• Date: Between 80 and 180 AD
  
• Material: Iron
  Stylus
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Stylus
  
• Subject:
• Who: Newstead Collection
  
• Where: Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead
  
• Event:
• Description:
• References:
  • Clarke, D.V., Breeze, D.J., and Mackay, Ghillean. The Romans in Scotland. An introduction to the collections of the National Museums of Antiquities of Scotland. Edinburgh: National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, 1980, p 51. 
• Translations:
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