[Bonetools] wrapped astragalus

[h13017cho at helka.iif.hu]

To get the knuckle bones rolling. I am assuming this is a cattle astragalus. Was the 
astragalus in a closed context with many other astragalii and were these also from cattle? 
This bronze band looks a bit like a sword blade or am I seeing things? Anyway, there are a 
few of examples of caprinae astragalii copied in bronze from the late bronze age on but I do 
not think the aim would have been the same since this bronze band actually obsures the 
shape of the bone rather than enhancing its formal properties in a new and valuable raw 
material in the copies. I believe there are also examples of black on red painted pottery 
astragalii from this period in Classical Greece (I am sure I have seen one at the British 
museum) so we know that this skeletal part had special significance related to fate or chance 
or good luck in this time period. There are even  examples of Roman period anchors in the 
Tell Dor museum with little raised relief astragalii on them. So, there is no doubt this skeletal 
element had particular significance relating to its apotropaic properties but the secret of 
interpretation must also lie with what they used to wrap around it. It is hard to believe this 
object has any practical significance or was simply half-finished. I am curious what the rest of 
the group has to say.

Alice