STONE IMPLEMENTS, ETC., IN THE DORSET MUSEUM. 31 



and the large ones, probably, were struck with compasses. It is 

 suggestive that a pair of ancient bronze compasses were found not 

 very far from the slab, with which they are now grouped in the 

 Museum. On the whole this remarkable relic looks to me like an 

 ornament, and, if so, probably the rectangular ones were so likewise. 

 It is impossible that the ornamented side of this round slab could 

 have been used as a writing tablet or game board. And it does 

 not seem likely that that side, ornamented and also slightly convex, 

 would be placed downwards when the appliance was in use, what- 

 ever the use might be. My idea, given with much doubt, is that 

 this round slab or plaque was affixed by glueing, or more likely 

 by inlaying, in the middle of a wooden panel, simply for ornament. 

 If so, the rectangular ones were perhaps for the same purpose. 

 The slight scoring on the reverse of some of these plaques might in 

 that case be for giving the glue a better hold. I see no signs of 

 holes, as if for nails, in any Dorset specimens. But two small 

 rectangular fragments from Nursling, Hants, now placed with the 

 round slab, have a small hole in each. Next I have to speak of 

 another disc of Kimmeridge coal in the Warne Collection ; quite 

 a different sort of thing, however. It is nearly two inches thick 

 and has been fifteen inches in diameter, turned on a lathe. On 

 one side it has a circular centre sinking, and from this three 

 rectangular ones have branched, judging from one and part of 

 another remaining. This remarkable fragment is the largest 

 ancient appliance of Kimmeridge shale ever found, as far as I 

 know. It comes from the site of a Roman pottery at Bagber. 

 Taking this into account I think that Mr. Warne can hardly have 

 been wrong in considering the disc to have been a potter's throwing 

 wheel. The sinkings in the under face would fit on to a frame 

 connected with the driving wheel in the usual way. The fragment 

 is described and engraved in " Warne's Ancient Dorset." The 

 last application of Kimmeridge shale which I have to notice is a 

 very rare one namely, as a material for parts of furniture. Of 

 such use of this shale the only published notice, known to me, is 

 by Mr. Warne, In " Ancient Dorset," p. 297, he says that Mr. 



