[Bonetools] rectangular headed bone pins

[S O'Connor]

Thanks Jim,

The comb and bracelet fragments from this site do suggest a late 4th C date.


I've had a look again at the top of the black pin head and it could be a
break, but that on the other pin looks like it is cut - although with the
erosion of the bone it is difficult to be 100% sure.  However, the
cancellous tissue in the medullary cavity on the back of this head suggests
that it was cut towards the end of the bone shaft and might not leave much
room for a carved head.  I will be talking to Hilary - this is more her
territory then mine.

Thanks very much. 

Sonia

 
Dr Sonia O'Connor FSA FIIC ACR
Archaeological Sciences
Division of AGES,  University of Bradford
Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, UK

tel 01274 23 6498 (office) 5210 (lab)
fax 01274 23 5210

-----Original Message-----
From: bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu
[mailto:bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu] On Behalf Of James William Boyle
Sent: 24 February 2010 21:05
To: Mailing list for archaeologists of the research group for the study of
object and waste of bone, antler. ivory and horn.
Cc: Bonetools at listserv.niif.hu
Subject: Re: [Bonetools] rectangular headed bone pins

Sonia,
     These most resemble Roman-style pins of the pedestal/bust type - it
appears that the female busts are broken off, leaving the pedestal base
behind as the pin head. Metal versions of these pins are shown in 
Cool, Hilary (1990) Roman metal hairpins from southern Britain.
Archaeological Journal 147:148-182

Bone versions are fairly common, and some broken and intact examples are
shown in 
Crummy, Nina (1983) Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small
finds from excavations in Colchester 1971-9. Colchester Archaeological Trust
Ltd. 
Particulalrly note pages 25-26.

I'm not sure if those dates match with the contexts of these pins, but they
would have few similarities that I would know about with Anglo-Saxon or
early medieval Scottish and Irish bone pins.

I hope that helps,
    Jim Boyle

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