[Bonetools] Antler Axe head

[fiona beglane]

Yes - thanks to everyone who commented, I was not aware that Ian had already worked on this axe head. I'm happy that it is whale, as he suggested, as did several others. For those who commented that it was likely to be a whale vertebral process - that had been my first thought as well when I saw it, but comparing it to a reference sample it doesn't match, so it is some other whale part. 
All the bestFiona
Fiona Beglane PhD MIAIAnimal Bone Specialist
 Licensed Archaeologist
 Donegal, Ireland
087 686 3914 (M)
 Alternate email address: beglane.fiona at itsligo.ie
 Atlantic Technological University, Sligo Campus
http://itsligo.academia.edu/fionabeglane




 

    On Wednesday, April 6, 2022, 05:09:10 PM GMT+1, Ian Riddler <trzaska2 at outlook.com> wrote:  
 
 
Dear Group,

  
 
Just to confirm that this axe head is whale bone. It has not yet been identified to species, although this is now becoming possible. We have an article about to go into Antiquity about species identification of whale bone at Hamwic (Southampton, England, 7th to 9th century AD) and I enclose a draft of that here.

  
 
Ian Riddler

  
 
Sent from Mail for Windows

  
 
From: fiona beglane
Sent: 06 April 2022 11:29
To: bonetools; arlene at acsu.ie
Subject: [Bonetools] Antler Axe head

  
 
Hi everyone,
 
This axe head came up on a burial site of probable medieval date in Ireland. It was found among animal bone and disarticulated human bone, and seems to be made of antler. 
 
  
 
I am looking for any parallels that people might know of. And also anyone's thoughts on function, as it would seem to me that it would have little use for woodworking or for butchery - but I am open to correction on this.  
 
  
 
Thank you all, as always
 
Fiona
 
  
 
  
 
Fiona Beglane PhD MIAI
 
Animal Bone Specialist
Licensed Archaeologist
Donegal, Ireland
087 686 3914 (M)
Alternate email address: beglane.fiona at itsligo.ie
Atlantic Technological University, Sligo Campus
http://itsligo.academia.edu/fionabeglane


 
  
 
  
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