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Dear Sarah, <br><br>
This artefact resembles some antler artefacts from Estonian sites, but I
am not sure about the function of these objects. I have discussed some
possibilities of their function in one my article, but it is in Estonian
(Luik, H. 2001.<b> </b>Luuesemed Kuusalu Pajulinnast ja asulatest. Eesti
Arheoloogia Ajakiri / Journal of Estonian Archaeology, 5, 1, 3–36).<br>
From Estonia we have only four examples, all dated to the Viking Age
(800-1050 AD), three of them from Kuusalu settlement site and one from
Iila cemetery (the drawing of artefacts from Kuusalu is in the
attachment). Comparable artefacts are discussed e.g. in Ambrosiani, K.
1981. Viking Age Combs, Comb Making and Comb Makers in the Light of Finds
from Birka and Ribe. <i>Stockholm Studies in Archaeology, 2.</i>
Stockholm, p. 139, fig. 89. Kristina Ambrosiani has supposed that these
items could have been used as weaving tools (Ambrosiani 1981, fig 89: 4).
But I do not think it is so. About Estonian artefacts such use maybe
could be possible for one of them, found from Iila, which is quite thin
and small, but other examples, found from Kuusalu, are too thick
(diameter 2-2,5 cm) for such use. One Estonian archaeologist, Ain
Mäesalu, was quite certain that they should be parts of bow terminals,
but I do not believe it (probably it is not possible to fix them enough
firmly for such purpose).<br>
One possiblity is that they could be element of horse equipment (so
called cheek pieces). I have seen one such object also in Novgorod
Museum, and Lyuba Smirnova, who has studied bone artefacts of Novgorod,
was also in opinion that it is part of bridles. Antler parts of horse
bridles are known e.g. from Lithuania (dated to 11.-14. centuries;
Kulikauskiene, R. & Rimantiene, R. 1966. Lietuvu liaudies menas.
Senoves Lietuvu papuosalai, II. Vilnius), but they are little different
in shape, sometimes they have one pointed tip, another end could be just
wider (but these wider ends are not hollowed as in Estonian (and your)
objects) or sometimes animal head shaped, but some of them have both ends
pointed. I guess, maybe these hollowed pieces could be parts of some
composite cheek pieces, but it is just only an assumption. <br><br>
All best wishes,<br>
Heidi <br><br>
<br><br>
At 22:09 10.05.2010, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Dear all,<br>
I got this letter from Sarah Wilson about
what looks to me to be something from red deer antler tine. We have such
things from the Bronze Age on in Hungary but Britain is a closed book to
me. She seems to think the object is medieval. When you reply please
write to both Sarah and the list so we can see the solution
together.<br><br>
Best,<br>
Alice<br><br>
---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>
From: <b>Wilson Sarah</b>
<<a href="mailto:Sarah.Wilson@vivacity-peterborough.com">
Sarah.Wilson@vivacity-peterborough.com</a>><br>
Date: Mon, May 10, 2010 at 12:26 PM<br>
Subject: Unusual find<br>
To:
<a href="mailto:h13017cho@helka.iif.hu">h13017cho@helka.iif.hu</a><br><br>
<br>
<font size=2>Dear Alice,<br>
</font><br>
<font size=2>I am the Collections Officer at Peterborough Museum in
Cambridgeshire England and am responsible for the archaeology collection.
The museum team are currently working on a medieval exhibition. As a
result I have been searching through the museum’s collection for relevant
objects. During this search I came across a piece of worked bone found in
Peterborough in the late 19<sup>th</sup> century described as a medieval
curved needle or awl – haft end flattened and perforated, and with groove
cut across the implement below haft. It is 4.8” long.<br>
</font><br>
<font size=2>The finds officer for Cambridgeshire suggested talking to
Ian Riddler however I cannot find a contact email for him and wondered if
you had one or were able to suggest someone else. I would love to know
whether it is in fact medieval and what it was used for.<br>
</font><br>
<font size=2>Any help or advice you can offer is appreciated.<br>
</font><br>
<font size=2>Best Wishes,<br>
</font><br>
<font size=2>Sarah<br>
</font><br>
<font size=2><<worked bone L248.jpg>> <br>
</font><br>
<font face="Tahoma" color="#000080"><b><a name="12881c0596434bda_"></a>
Sarah Wilson</font><br>
<font face="Tahoma" color="#000080">Collections and Interpretation
Officer</b></font><br>
<font face="Tahoma" color="#000080">Peterborough Museum and Art
Gallery</font><br>
<font face="Tahoma" color="#000080">Priestgate</font><br>
<font face="Tahoma" color="#000080">Peterborough</font><br>
<font face="Tahoma" color="#000080">PE1 1LF</font><br>
<font face="Tahoma" color="#000080">Tel: 01733 864663<br>
</font><br>
<font face="Tahoma" color="#000080">Direct Line: 01733 864709<br>
</font><br><br>
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