In archaeology, instrumentum domesticum (or simply instrumentum) refers to instruments, tools, and other artifacts intended for ordinary and domestic use (as opposed, for instance, to objects with religious, ceremonial, or monumental purposes). It also includes replicas of such objects made to be deposited in graves.[Giuseppe Pucci (2001): "Inscribed instrumentum and the ancient economy"; . Chapter 6 of Ancient History From Inscriptions: Ancient History From Inscriptions, edited by John Bodel. Routledge; 272 pages ][Robin George Collingwood (1995): The Roman Inscriptions of Britain: Instrumentum domesticum (Personal belongings and the like). Graffiti on coarse pottery cut before and after firing, Stamp on coarse pottery, Addenda and corrigenda to fascicules 1-8 (RIB 2502-2505), Volume 2, Part 8. Published by Administrators of the Haverfield Bequest; 165 pages. ][(2019) " instrumentum domesticum", article in the Italian Wikipedia. Accessed on 2019-04-26] The name is Latin for "domestic instruments", a term originally defined by Roman Law.[
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In epigraphy and paleography, the term refers to inscriptions that were written on such objects at or near the time of their use. In this sense, it also includes inscriptions in oracle objects (like the sortes of the Roman Empire), , and personal spells (like the Roman and Greek ). It does not however include objects whose function was to carry text, such as writing tablets and books.[
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Gallery
File:Foculum (Serving Tray) with Jars and Implements Etruscan from Chiusi A Tomb Group 550-500 BCE Earthen Bucchero ware.jpg|Clay replica of a serving tray ( foculum) made for furnishing an Etruscan grave. The original tray and utensils may have been made of wood, metal, or other materials. Chiusi, Tomb A Group, 550-500 BCE.
File:Fragment of a terracotta neck-amphora (jar) MET DP21771.jpg|Fragment of a amphora depicting the fight between Herakles (Hercules), wearing a lion skin, and the Amazons warrior Andromache (whose name is written in Greek from right to left). 575-560 BCE.
File:Chocolate cup depicting a mythic scene, Maya, El Zotz or vicinity, Guatemala, 650-800 AD, ceramic, polychrome slip - Princeton University Art Museum - DSC07151.jpg|Maya chocolate cup with mythological scene and Maya script. El Zotz region, Guatemala, 650-800 CE.
File:Romano-Celtic mirror (Desborough).jpg|The Desborough Mirror, Romano- culture, found in England. 50 BCE - 50 CE.
