ROMAN TESSERA

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Six (6) sub cuboid white stone probable tesserae.Each tessera consists of a sub cuboid shape, made out of a light grey fine grained limestone type stone. One surface of each tessera appears to be slightly polished which is the result of being walked over. The other surfaces are rough and irregular in shape.The measurements of the tesserae are as follows:1. 26.53mm in length, 14.60mm wide & 14.95mm thick. It weighs 12.06 grams.2. 20.96mm in length, 18.25mm wide & 14.89mm thick. It weighs 10.47 grams.3. 20.39mm in length, 20.66mm wide & 19.56mm thick. It weighs 17.54 grams.4. 19.35mm in length, 16.97mm wide & 19.06mm thick. It weighs 16.64 grams.5. 16.86mm in length, 14.62mm wide & 17.29mm thick. It weighs 8.68 grams.6. 19.45mm in length, 14.52mm wide & 19.46mm thick. It weighs 8.20 grams.Together they all weigh 70.61 grams.The tessera have been photographed together as a group.The presence of tessera on a site indicates the probability of a mosaic pavement, and therefore a probable villa. If it definitely a tessera, then it is of Roman dating (1st to 4th Centuries AD). Similar tessera were recovered from the excavations between 1955 and 1985 at the Baths & Macellum at Wroxeter (Anderson et al, 2000, 189).References:Anderson, F. W., Macalister, F., & Williams, D. 2000. Stone Implements and other worked stone. In Ellis (ed). 2000.Ellis, P.(ed) 2000. The Roman Baths and Macellum at Wroxeter. Excavations by Graham Webster 1955-85. Archaeological Report 9. English Heritage. London.