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We're busy putting the finishing touches on the next instalment of Time Team News, which includes some interesting reconstruction models. But what on earth is this strange contraption?

View the model on Sketchfab HERE.

A burrito rolling machine? John Gater's autocue? Let us know what you think in the comments section.

To find out the answer, you'll just have to wait until the episode. Full details to follow soon...

TIP

To view all of the 3D models we have released so far, click on the '3D model' tag on this post.

SKETCHFAB TROUBLE-SHOOTING

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Comments

Ross Gibson

Is some sort of printing device?

Gordon Elliott

Scroll roller/unroller. Looks like lead sheet with writing.

Jessicka Catherine

Some kind of over-engineered Victorian unrolling device, so you don't have to touch it with your hands?

Hove Steve

A papyrus scroll reader

Mike Darby

I agree with Gordon, it's for unrolling Roman Curse tablets

Clare Stapleton

the device developed to unroll the Herculaneum scrolls. The idea was that the unrolled scroll would emerge from the slot at the top of the machine and then be supported onto a receiving piece of linen.

barbara blue

I agree with Steve Egyptian papyrus scroll unroller 📜

Loz

A trouser press for squirrels?

Mario Papworth

rolling out lead? all their water pipes were made from lead , in this case flashing for roofs? just a punt

Kathleen Garza

Interesting. Is it for pressing the oils out of plants?

Kate

It looks like something to do with rolling/unrolling of lead scrolls. The stand is adjustable for the size and weight of the scroll, both the holder and the table. Wouldn't you write on lead with a stylus? That writing looks more like brush and ink. Is the dish for liquid ink and the spoon for smashing the ink stick and stirring in the water? Is it Greek or some Middle Eastern script? Looks like Alpha, epsilon, lambda, sigma, chi and other characters I don't recognize.

Kate

Poor Stewart.

Dave Couchman-Boor

I am not sure but the writing looks like it might be Hebrew . I think it might be a stand for reading scripture.

Flumbo

My son and I vote for a lead scroll unroller, with a height controller to see as much of the scroll as you want at once. We can’t decide what the bowl and spoon are for though. Oil?

Sandy Seton-Browne

Possibly a device designed to unroll Herculaneum scrolls or Dead Sea scrolls.

Kerry Hennigan

Like Sandy, I thought of the efforts to preserve and unroll the scrolls from the Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum.

Russell Neilsen

I suggest it's either a lead scroll, or possibly velum, which is loaded into the suspension straps with the weight carried by the curved metal underneath. It would appear to be to unroll the scroll slowly so as to not damage it. Between lowering the curved metal support and tightening the screws at the top the scroll can be gently unrolled and read. I note that there are letters on the reverse where the letters on the front have disappeared. Unless it's a Phoenician menu that is rolled for breakfast, partly unrolled for lunch, and fully unrolled for dinner.

Jakub Jůzl

Definitely an antique japanese sushi roller. :)

Noblesse Oblige

I agree with everyone who thinks it's for unrolling the Herculaneum burned scrolls. It worked a little bit but mostly destroyed them instead. So thrilled to hear about the newly developed tech for non-invasively reading them at last!

Cheryl Kurucz

🧐🤔❤️❤️❤️❤️

Graham Dombkins

I thought we were beyond unrolling scrolls from antiquity. The amazing success I’ve seen in “reading” the Herculaneum scrolls I hope stops people physically damaging these objects any more. If we can’t do it now, leave it for the next gen and better tech.

Sacha Messialle

hello its the member with aspergers autism i been looking at it looks like a parchement reader or parchement dryer just an idea .8-)(-;>0.0<

David

I think it might be for unrolling and reading lead scrolls/curses

Caroline W

A scytale encryption device used to make thin strips of messages that could be wrapped round a scroll disguising the real intent of battle planning.

Steven M. Frisby

Agreed: Looks like the early device used to try to unroll the carbonized Herculaneum scrolls.