What *is* that object those nymphs are holding?

[Nick Pelling <incoming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi everyone,

Looking closely at the pictures in the balnaeological section, I noticed 
that many of them appear to be holding (pretty much) the same curious object:-

f79v	top left nymph
	second nymph down
f80r	second nymph on top row
	(what the bottom left nymph is holding is another matter entirely!!)
f80v	top left nymph (long version?)
	second nymph down

I don't know what it is, I just thought I'd flag it as an item of interest. :-)

Cheers, .....Nick Pelling.....