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This is a domino-sized piece of soapstone engraved in reverse with the words “Julius Alexander’s salve for irritations”.
It is one of only 60 such stamps world-wide. Cosmetic branding was as important to the Romans as it is to us today. This stamp ensured that people knew they were getting ‘ the real McCoy ‘ and not some forgery.
It was found on the Mount by the Dickinsons – a farmer and his nephew who worked land on which the Mount School now stands. They worked very closely with local archaeologist Peter Wenham in collecting and plotting Roman objects from their land.
Their collection of artefacts now forms part of the archaeological collections at the Yorkshire Museum.
Information by – Andrew Morrison
YORYM 2006.2878
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