Unusual clay rollers have been found in the excavations at Ban Chiang the use of which is unknown. The one pictured is about 70mm long by 30mm in diameter. Suggestions as to use include design stamping onto cloth, pottery, bark-cloth or even onto the bodies of the deceased. A further suggestion, that is of particular interest to me, is that by Folan and Hyde that they are part of an Accounting system.
Information on these can be found in the link below:
http://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/handle/10125/19218/AP-v23n2-153-163.pdf?sequence=1
The Significance of Clay Rollers of the Ban Chiang Culture by Folan and Hyde
“…tokens forming part of … an accounting system..…..a precursor to writing…. and….. tokens representing various quantities of goods.”
However, the following link seems to disprove the “Accounting” theory as the rollers seem to be linked only with the burials of very young children.
http://worldheritage.routes.travel/world-heritage-site/ban-chiang-archaeological-site/
Introduction to Ban Chiang Archaeological Site
“Among some of the children’s burials were some intricately carved baked clay rollers, the purpose of which is currently unknown. The carefully patterned rollers are from low-fire clay and are about 7-9cm long. They may have been used to add patterns to cloth or used as seals to make an ownership mark on other clay objects. The rollers were buried with children aged just 1 to 6, too young to have been artisans, but this must have been significant. No adult burials had rollers.”
There are a number of links on the Internet relating to the rollers but I can’t find anything new on the subject.
I would appreciate any information that would help to explain these rollers.
I can only add that clay rollers have also been found in South American cultures such as Tumaco-La Tolita in Colombia and Ecuador and probably date between 500 BC and 500 AC. What ever the final purpose of the rollers they often contained symbols that were repeated if rolled.
Just found the following, undated MA paper of Christina Sewall, n.d., The conical rollers of Ban Non Wat, Northeast Thailand. (74p., pdf)
It contains a section "5.3 Possible Functions of conical rollers", and lists newer literature.
Hi all,
Sorry - I've been away from my computer.
To Peter and Rudolf - my thanks for your help. It is much appreciated.
To Rudolf, I've been able to get a little more information from the references at the end of the article that you mentioned.
Thanks again,
All the best,
Col
As far as I remember Ch. Higham suggested that the rolers could hardly be used for textile printing because their shape is not well fitted for this. I understood that some experiments have been done and the rollers would have to be covered by the pigment too often to be effective. They could be thus used rather for imprints in clay, but I'm not sure if any prove of such use have been found yet.
Hi Marta,
Thank you for your help.
It seems possible that they were used on pottery but one problem against this is that some rollers are barrel shaped which makes difficulties in using on flat or rounded items. So far printing designs on bodies (not necessarily dead ones) seems a possibility. Possibly somewhat similar to Henna designs or temporary tattoos. Possibly a decoration on a childs body??
All the best,
Col
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