Tablets covered in beeswax, in which writing was traced by means of a stylus, are known to be in use since Roman times. The stylus has a sharp point at one end to scratch the marks in the wax, its other end is often flat, spatula-shaped, to smooth the wax again, rubbing out the marks, ready for new writing.

This bone example does have a spatula, but not very clearly marked, and it is decorated with an incised spiral. It is very small, and was probably meant for a child.

dimensions: 65 x 9 mm

provenance: Haarlem (NL)

date: 15^th century AD