[Bonetools] medieval drilled phalanges

[Marloes Rijkelijkhuizen]

Hi Alice,
These are playing bones. They cannot stand upright, but you don't only need standing bones,
but also throwing bones, to knock down the standing bones. 
Filled with lead, they throw easier (harder?). Examples from Amsterdam have lead fillings or
iron nails. Cut marks one these objects are decoration or for example to point out the owner 
or playing points. The phalanges used for this game are decorated with lines, but also points 
or crosses. 
These are very simple gaming pieces, which could be made very easily yourself.Mostly used were cattle phalanges, but sometimes also horse phalanges.
 
Marloes



> From: h13017cho at helka.iif.hu> To: bonetools at listserv.iif.hu> Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2008 13:37:21 +0100> Subject: [Bonetools] medieval drilled phalanges> > Dear colleagues,> More strange bone tools -this time from a medieval house context in Visby > on Gotland (Sweden). These cattle first phalanges were drilled through the > proximal end and filled with lead. The cut marks look more like cuts from > defleshing and hide removal to me. Curiously, these objects will NOT stand > upright with the lead in them so gaming pieces are out. We have identical > objects from rural medieval contexts, cattle and horse first phalanges drilled > through the proximal ends but without the lead. I assumed the Hungarian > objects must be some kind of toy (phalanges standing in as harnessed > animals with a toy wagon) or some kind of crude, ad hoc handle. Any > ideas out there? > > Alice
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