Roman seal boxes

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kev woodward
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Roman seal boxes

Post by kev woodward »

I have over recent years been collecting references to all Roman seal boxes that are hidden away in archaeological journals, site reports and seal boxes found by detectorists that haven't been recorded elsewhere. The object is to see what the distribution patterns are of the various types as I am extremely sceptical that the accepted use of these items was only to seal letters and packages. It is also possible that certain types can be attributed to a certain geographical area. I would welcome any examples you may come across in books and journals or if you are lucky enough to find one; I am interested in fragments as well whole examples. If you feel able I would also like to know which parish it was found in (by PM of course) and if it was found on a known habitation site or close to other artefacts or coins. I will treat all information given in strict confidence, it is for research purposes only and not for publication.
If you have already recorded your found seal boxes with PAS or UKDFD then I already have them on my database and I thank you for recording them.
For examples of what I am looking for (as I know some of you may not have seen one before) Click Here
You can post your found seal boxes or references here or PM me.
Many thanks to those that can help me with this research :g50:
I have become comfortably numb

stig

Re: Roman seal boxes

Post by stig »

Only ever found a lid Kev & have pm`d you the pic :g50:

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kev woodward
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Re: Roman seal boxes

Post by kev woodward »

Got it thanks Stig and it's my favourite type as well :g50: :g38:
I have become comfortably numb

stig

Re: Roman seal boxes

Post by stig »

No problem Kev, just pleased to have found such an interesting item or "fragment of" ... here is a pic for anyone else also keen on these items... :g39:
Attachments
Seal Box Lid - 1st - 2nd C. - Copy - Copy.jpg
Seal Box Lid - 1st - 2nd C. - Copy - Copy.jpg (213.52 KiB) Viewed 18022 times

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marcsdigs
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Re: Roman seal boxes

Post by marcsdigs »

I wish luck Kev, sounds another worthwhile excuse to visit your website in the future. :g38:
just wish i could add to it myself...well, you never know :g62:
My nicer finds HERE - Machines used - Garrett GTI 2500 & Pro Pinpointer
Record finds at ukdfd.co.uk, finds.org.uk
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samo
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Re: Roman seal boxes

Post by samo »

hi kev, you have pm
steve.

Image
Image
Image
T2 ltd.....minelab ctx3030

stig

Re: Roman seal boxes

Post by stig »

:g3: :shock: :g38: :g38: :g38:

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tomredmayne
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Re: Roman seal boxes

Post by tomredmayne »

Wow!!!!.......... :shock:
Image

Self-recording with the PAS, it's worth the effort.........MY RECORDS

DISC ON PIN BUCKLES

smiler247
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Re: Roman seal boxes

Post by smiler247 »

Hi,

I was lucky enough to find one a few years ago - I will dig it out and post a photo for you then PM you the details - its a fairly plain example but in great condition.

Cheers
Mark

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kev woodward
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Re: Roman seal boxes

Post by kev woodward »

Wow, thanks Mark. Like I said in my PM it appears to be a unique design so far :g50: :g38: :g38: :g38:
I have become comfortably numb

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scratchiemm
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Re: Roman seal boxes

Post by scratchiemm »

This is mine, but you probably already have it......................

http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/121930

Good luck Kev with your ongoing research :g38:

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marcsdigs
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Re: Roman seal boxes

Post by marcsdigs »

That is a stunner Steve, well found :g38: :g38:
My nicer finds HERE - Machines used - Garrett GTI 2500 & Pro Pinpointer
Record finds at ukdfd.co.uk, finds.org.uk
View my FLICKR photos Click Here

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samo
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Re: Roman seal boxes

Post by samo »

cheers mate :g30:
T2 ltd.....minelab ctx3030

paulh
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Re: Roman seal boxes

Post by paulh »

I've found a couple of these before now which have been recorded, here's one I found last month which is rather more interesting as it is millefiori and you probably wont have seen it yet. It was found in an area with a scattering of 3rd and 4thC coins and artefacts.
Good luck with your research
Paul.
20161203_160025.jpg
20161203_160025.jpg (556.96 KiB) Viewed 15325 times
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20161203_160050.jpg
20161203_160050.jpg (153.6 KiB) Viewed 15325 times

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kev woodward
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Re: Roman seal boxes

Post by kev woodward »

Wow that's a beauty Paul, many thanks for posting it up. The fact that it was found with some later Roman coins re-enforces the idea that these milliflori designs are from the late 3rd to 4th century.
I was some what beaten to making my thoughts public by a PhD thesis published in the BAR series which proved quite well that seal boxes were NOT used for sealing documents but for sealing leather or cloth one piece bags that contained money or other valuable items such as those in the Snettisham jewellers hoard. My mission now is to get all PAS records that say they sealed documents changed, which is just about all of them!
Below is an image of another like your seal box that was found on the Notts/Lincs border a few years ago and recorded with me, it is one of my favourites. Thanks again Paul :g50:
Notts.jpg
Notts.jpg (85.71 KiB) Viewed 15293 times
I have become comfortably numb

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