Summary

Spoon or cochleare of bronze, for eating eggs, shellfish and snails, from the Roman site at Newstead, Roxburghshire, 80 - 180 AD

Accession Number

X.FRA 695

Other references

Original description

NEWSTEAD COLLECTION. Small spoon of copper which appears to have been coated with white metal, 4 3/4" in extreme length; the bowl measures 7/8" in diameter, & the handle is pointed to the end. [MoS description] Fat of the land. Roman utensils - officers. (8) Bronze spoons for eating eggs, shellfish and snails, Newstead. 80 - 180 AD. [Scran caption] This bronze spoon was found at the site of the Roman fort at Newstead in Roxburghshire. It dates from between 80 and 180 AD. Roman spoons of this shape are known as 'cochleare' in Latin. The spoon has a small circular bowl and a long and slender handle which is pointed to the end. It appears to have been coated with white metal, presumably to make it appear like silver. Excavations at Newstead have revealed much about the layout and daily life in Roman forts in Scotland. Officers in the Roman army possessed better cooking and serving equipment than the lower ranks. Date: Between 80 and 180 AD. Material: Bronze. Dimensions: Length: 12.1 cm.

Associated person/people (e.g. excavator/former collection)

Newstead Collection

Discovery / field collection

Date of discovery

1905

Method (e.g. excavation)

Excavated

Place (i.e. location of discovery)

Newstead, Roxburghshire, Scotland, Northern Europe

Grid reference

Not recorded

Acquisition

Acquisition date

1916

Acquisition source (i.e. name of donor)

Unknown

Acquisition source role (e.g. donor)

Not recorded

Image