Wood, worked wood, writing tablet

This writing tablet refers to a dispute between two men over property in Kent. Lucius Iteius Betucus, originally from the Capua area of Italy, claims to be the owner, stating that he paid Titus Valerius Silvinus 40 denarii for 4½ acres (1.8 hectares) of land.

Romans used a metal pen (stylus) to write on wooden tablets covered with a layer of wax. Wax rarely survives burial, but in this case the writer pressed so hard that he scratched the surface of the wood beneath the wax. The Romans created personal letters, business transactions and legal documents following this method.