Piece of a glass bead

This piece of a glass bead was found at the native hillfort site of Traprain Law in East Lothian. It is an expensive item of Roman manufacture which was acquired by trade or gift sometime between 80 and 200 AD.

The bead is of a type called a melon bead, due to its obvious resemblance to the fruit. It is nearly complete.

Melon beads are a long-lived form. They appear to have been introduced by the Romans into Britain, where they were copied in glass and other materials. Thereafter their popularity declined in Britain, but they were reintroduced later by Germanic invaders.

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