[Bonetools] Antler find from Talybont beach Merionnydd, Wales

[S O'Connor]

Dear Sian,

 

The light colouration in image 007 suggests that this area of flattening is
a recent change.  Could it have been abraded during excavation?  When wet,
decayed antler can be very soft, only hardening up when it is dry.  Antler
from a Yorkshire Wolds site I dealt with recently was very like this, almost
as soft as butter when first encountered and then drying to a harder but
brittle and cracked state.  Difficult to differentiate from the  chalk
rubble, the first exposed surfaces of this antler showed abrasion and other
damage from trowel, hand shovel and brush.

 

All the best,

 

Sonia 

 

Dr Sonia O'Connor PhD FSA FIIC ACR Honorary Visiting Fellow, University of
York

Post-doctoral Research Fellow

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

 

From: bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu
[mailto:bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu] On Behalf Of Sian
Sent: 20 July 2011 14:34
To: bonetools at listserv.niif.hu
Subject: [Bonetools] Antler find from Talybont beach Merionnydd, Wales

 

Hi,

 

Someone I work with at the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust has had this piece
of antler shown to them that was recovered from peat deposits on Tal y bont
beach Llanaber, Wales.  He's got to give it back to the owner soon but I was
wondering if anyone has any suggestions/comments.  

 

Mesolithic and Bronze Age finds have been made in the area, and there is a
chance it came from the clay deposits that lie below the peat instead.

 

Thanks,

 

Sian

 

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