Roman bone weaving tablet from context 1126, Evans Halshaw site, Hyde Street, Winchester (WINCM:AY 1).

Weaving tablet

Roman

Found during excavations by Winchester Museums Service at the old Evans Halshaw Garage, now Silchester Place, Hyde Street in 2000

These were tools used by women to weave braids and bands to decorate the edges of clothing and sometimes belts. The bone tablet- sometimes more than one was used at the same time, has four warp threads, one thread for each hole. As a result, lots of different and complex geometrical patterns could be crafted. This was a very skilled job and the bands were often woven with the finest of wools.