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<DIV><SPAN class=710153105-01112009><FONT face=Arial>Dear
Marloes,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=710153105-01112009><FONT face=Arial>Indeed some scholars have
been wondering for years wether these are needles or something else, especially
as metal needles appeared in larger numbers in the Roman period. It
was suggested, for instance, that tey were hair or clothes pins. Signs to
look for: a needle should show a lot more use wear on the tip and
shaft and around the eye than a pin. In many pins the shaft was
intentionally left rough to avoid them of falling out of the hair or the
clothes, while the shaft of a needle should be smooth of work. If the top of the
object is relatively wide or thick, one should also wonder if it is a needle, as
it could cause damage to the cloth (but don't forget other uses of needles,
such as for medicine, with leather etc.). It is worth checking if the tops of
your "needles" show use wear - a known phenomena - which hints that some work
was done with them too. Finally - some of these objects were probably kohl
sticks (as shown in Greek art) and indeed some Caesarea needles checked by me
bear remains of reddish-brown material on their tips. We tried to check the
material in the Weizmann Institute but couldn't get a definite answer as to
their character.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=710153105-01112009><FONT face=Arial>You can find more, with
references, in my report on the Caesarea bone tools (BAR IS 1457, 2005, pp.
24-25.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=710153105-01112009><FONT
face=Arial>Etan</FONT> </SPAN></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=he dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma><B>From:</B> bonetools-bounces@listserv.niif.hu
[mailto:bonetools-bounces@listserv.niif.hu] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Marloes
Rijkelijkhuizen<BR><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, October 25, 2009 1:06 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
bonetools@listserv.niif.hu<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Bonetools] roman
needles<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV><BR> Some Roman needles from Holland (no further context
information received..).<BR> <BR>Any special things I can write about or
pay attention to?<BR> <BR>Best, Marloes<BR><BR>
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