Roman mould
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This stone mould is probably part of a larger composite reusable mould which, when assembled, appears to be for making a circular ring. The large holes are where the separate elements of the mould were joined together with pegs (material unknown). The mould is thought to be made from white lias limestone. The casting process includes the use of a crucible, using metals with a low enough melting point, with the molten metal being poured into the mould via the sprue (conical shaped groove) and hand finished.
It is not known what the cluster of 5 small depressions (which resemble a dice side) were for.
Found at Brislington Roman villa site during the development of what is now Winchester Road in December 1899. The villa is contemporary with several others in the region, built about AD 270 as a working farm with workshops until destroyed by fire about AD 370.
Photographs exhibited with kind permission of Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, which has this in its collection (reference number F888).
Material: stone
Period: Romano-British
Find spot: Winchester Road, Brislington. ST 616709
Exhibit contributed by Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
Text written by Dawn Witherspoon (2012)
Photographer: Ken Taylor
Acquisition number: 120316a3