Roman brick with a footprint
Malton Museum, North Yorkshire
You can see this object on display at Malton Museum which holds a substantial collection of Roman artefacts. Many traces of Roman activity have been found in this area of Yorkshire.
The footprint is approximately 12cm in length and was left by a child (possibly around 3 years old) and is good evidence of family life in a military settlement.
This is a lovely object because it reminds us that other human beings have walked in these places and touched these objects – we already know this, but it’s nice to have such physical evidence of human contact from thousands of years ago. The child had trodden on the tile whilst it was laid out to dry, before it was fired in the kiln.
Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Watch the Video to discover more and discuss the object
Watch The Video With Subtitles
Talking Points
How do you think we know that the footprint was left during Roman times and not later?
How old do you think the child was who left the print? (You could measure your own foot to compare!)
Do you think the child who left the print was told off by a grown up? Would people have been able to tell who made the footprint?
Have you ever explored anywhere you shouldn’t have gone? What happened?
Why do you think the builder decided to use the brick despite the footprint?
What other marks can you think of that people leave behind as evidence that they’ve been somewhere?
Take It Further
Hotseat
Interview a member of the group in role as the child who left the print and another member of the group as the mason who made the brick upon discovering the damage.
This can be a quick activity (lasting only a couple of minutes) and doesn’t require any planning. If other members of the group disagree with one of the portrayals, they could have another go.
Hands on History
Malton Museum runs ‘Roman Legacy’ workshops in schools across the region and you can also borrow an object loan box to explore the Romans in Ryedale. There is a substantial collection of Roman artefacts within the museum collection.
Museum Location
