[Bonetools] FW: Re: FW: Bone object - textile manufacture?

[S O'Connor]

Dear Alice,

Please do add Erik to the mailing list.

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


-----Original Message-----
From: FARRELL E.R. [mailto:e.r.farrell at durham.ac.uk] 
Sent: 10 March 2013 17:01
To: S O'Connor
Subject: RE: Re: [Bonetools] FW: Bone object - textile manufacture?

Dr. O'Connor,

In that case, could you add me to the listserv under erfarrell.nc at gmail.com
rather than this address? My Durham account is convenient for coursework,
but I assume it will vanish into the ether a year or so after I graduate. I
tend towards inorganic artefacts so I doubt I'll be much of a contributor,
but the greater the variety of artefacts and materials I can get some
familiarity with the better off I will be the next time I run into something
odd like this.

Thanks,
Erik Farrell


________________________________________
From: S O'Connor [S.Oconnor at bradford.ac.uk]
Sent: 08 March 2013 17:16
To: FARRELL E.R.
Subject: RE: Re: [Bonetools] FW: Bone object - textile manufacture?

I've posted this and your latest email on the discussion list.  Of course
you can join yourself if bone objects is an area of research you feel
passionate about!!  Otherwise I am happy to continue. I am sure we have gone
almost as far as we can.  Let's see what your latest information gets them
thinking about.

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


-----Original Message-----
From: FARRELL E.R. [mailto:e.r.farrell at durham.ac.uk]
Sent: 07 March 2013 22:04
To: S.Oconnor at bradford.ac.uk
Subject: FW: Re: [Bonetools] FW: Bone object - textile manufacture?

Dr. O'Connor,

I'm going to try to address as much as I can in this, so it may be rather
long. If you would prefer I start sending through the listserv directly,
please let me know (if that's even possible). I hate to keep taking up your
time forwarding emails around, but I do really appreciate it.

With regard to information in the records I viewed today: there is still no
context, and the date range has widened significantly. The current museum
record had reference to a number corresponding to a 1957 acquisition with,
for the most part, the date range I previously sent. Unfortunately that
number is actually an auction lot number from the 1922 MacGregor auction,
and the original accession is under a different reference. I have found that
number, but the entire entry is 'ivory fragment, 6cm'. It's through a 1971
acquisition from the Wellcome collection with completely unknown origin. It
is listed as Egyptian, but the date range could be anything from Predynastic
through to Islamic. There is no record of an excavation or any associated
artefacts.

I am going to try to track down the auction reference in the hopes it has at
least some kind of contextual information. Fortunately Durham has a copy of
the catalog which I can grab first thing tomorrow morning.

I have also attached photos of the wear at greater magnification, as well as
additional photos.

I have some awareness of how thoroughly terrible a question this is to ask,
but can anyone identify the type of bone from photos? I've had one person
look at it and identify it as definitely bone rather than ivory, but
indeterminate bone morphology and species. The museum record's
identification as ivory has me in search of a third opinion. I can tell it's
not elephantine ivory with some level of confidence, but unfortunately I
wouldn't recognize hippo ivory if the hippo walked up and bit me personally.


Attempting to address anything I have not previously:

Dr. Ayalon,

I should be able to take a look at your book on the Caesarea Maritima finds
tomorrow as well which may clear up some of my questions. I am wondering
with respect to the weaving tablet, are there examples with a linear row of
holes? Most of the examples I can find seem to be square with the four
corners pierced. I have found a couple irregularly shaped examples with more
than 4 holes, but all seem to have a substantial center section with no
holes.



Dr. Ayalon and Dr. Riddler,

The suggestion of a belt divider is very interesting. I will see what I can
track down on belts worn in Egypt; hopefully I can find some similar
example. Would either of you be willing to suggest how you think it might
have been attached? I presume the strap of the belt would be attached at the
worn hole, but how do you think the broken end might have functioned? If
there was a ring through the final hole putting pressure on that might
explain the nature of the break, but I am unsure what purpose the other
holes might serve then. They could be ornamental, but they weaken the
structure quite significantly for something functional like a strap.


Dr. Poplin,

Unfortunately there is no context or associated artefacts, as this object
has come down through several different owners and originates in a late 19th
century collection.



Dr. Santander Pizarro,

I realized the prior photos were not at the magnification you had asked for.
I have taken new photos at 40x and attached them to this email. They are
taken through a binocular microscope, so unfortunately the depth of field is
not as good as it could be.



Many thanks to everyone for their time and suggestions,

Regards,
Erik Farrell


________________________________________
From: SA O'Connor [S.Oconnor at bradford.ac.uk]
Sent: 07 March 2013 10:30
To: FARRELL E.R.
Subject: Fwd: Re: [Bonetools] FW: Bone object - textile manufacture?

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