[Bonetools] twine bones

[Marloes Rijkelijkhuizen]

Hello everyone,
 
I am sure we all came home after the conference with lots of new ideas and questions. Thanks again to the organizers!
 
A reaction on the poster on bone and antler working in medieval Douai: the poster showed an object that was described as chess-piece. This object is however probably related to textile-working. A recent article, published in The Netherlands (in Dutch language) is:
 
Ans Nieuwenburg-Bron & Vincent van Vilsteren, 2007, Vissen naar een oplossing. De benen drietand wederom onder de loep. Westerheem 56 (3), 123-131.
 
The authors of this article describe some of the former interpretations and why these were rejected. The most probable interpretation is to connect the objects to textile-working.
The objects (how to call them in English, is there a general word for this?) are made of metapodials of usually cow, and have mostly 3 teeth (sometimes 2 or 4). The front is decorated. Date: 10th-12th century. An overview of the finds in The Netherlands and Belgium is published by Van Klaveren. 
 
The interpretation of the authors is that they were used as ‘twine bones’. It was put on the thumb and the function was to separate the threads from each other until they reached the spindle whorl. This theory was based on the finds from The Netherlands and some finds from other countries. A find from Scandinavia for example has an runen-inscription: ‘twine bone’. Most important aspect is that the natural marrow cavity is worked to make it bigger/smoother, so this must have a function. Polish by thread is however missing. Some finds from Säben have no marrow cavity, but a part of the object is hollowed out. The hollow is therefore functional and used to put it on the thumb. 
The objects disappear with the introduction of the spinning wheel in the 13th century. 
Twined threads were rarely used for textiles, only a few archaeological finds are made of twined threads. Another purpose is mentioned, namely for the production of fish nets. 
The ‘twine bones’ have not been found in the terpmound-area (coastal area), because flax and hemp, used for fishnets, were not produced here. 
 
Sorry for the quick translation, with all the grammar-mistakes, but I can pass on any comments and questions to the first author.
 
All the best,
Marloes 
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