File:Roman glass bead detail (FindID 642066).jpg

English: Fragment of a dark blue glass melon bead of Roman date (50-200 AD). The bead has been broken in half and 50% survives; it is irregular in plan and cross section. Originally it would probably have been sub-oval shape in plan with a central hole. The central hole is ridged by vertical striations and has an internal diameter of 11.4mm. The outer edge of the bead has regular lentoid shaped ridges formed by regular grooves like depressions. The bead has been broken relatively recently as the edges are crisp and unabraded, the matrix of the glass shows frequent small bubbles. There are also two dark brown seams which run through the glass - these maybe deliberate decoration - although are somewhat irregular. The exact function for these beads is somewhat elusive. The smaller beads were probably used in a similar manner to other beads as a form of personal adornment, although the larger faience and glass melon beads may have been impractical to wear, particularly around the neck. An alternative function is that they were used as decoration for horse harness and the heavy abrasion especially at the perforations may support this proposition. Nina Crummy writes: "These beads [=melon beads] are found in 1st and 2nd century contexts and seem, on the evidence from our catalogue, to have been introduced into this country at the conquest. There is some slight indication that the smaller the bead the earlier it is. Most are made from turquoise frit, which often decays to white." Crummy publishes only one example made from dark blue glass (fig.32, no. 524). (Crummy 1983, 30+32).

The fragment measures 27.1mm diameter, 16.3mm width, 17.4mm high and is 8.1mm thick; it weighs 8.1 grams.