A stylus was a pointed metal or bone tool used by Romans for writing on wax-coated wooden tablets. The pointed end was used to inscribe letters, while the flat end could be used to smooth the wax for corrections.
Styluses were a common tool for students, merchants, and officials, facilitating quick, erasable note-taking.
Many styluses have been found at Vindolanda, a Roman fort near Hadrian’s Wall, along with wax tablets containing records, letters, and notes. These discoveries offer insight into daily communication and administrative practices in Roman Britain
« Back to Glossary Index
