Description

Summary: 1 bone spatula (broken), found with two crouched primary male inhumations (archers?) in bowl barrow Mere G6a, found by Mr. Fenton

Research results

An incomplete Bronze Age bone spatula found with a primary inhumation in bowl barrow Mere G6a, excavated in the early 19th century. The burial with which the spatula was found was a double inumation of two crouched adults, and from the other grave goods can be attributed to the earliest phase of the Bronze Age, sometimes called the Chalcolithic. These were an early form of copper alloy dagger, beaker and two gold sheet discs, although one of the latter has been lost. Examination of the wear evident on the tips of similar spatulae has led to the suggestion that many were used for pressure flaking flint - a method of flint knapping used for very fine work, such as that seen on barbed and tanged arrowheads.

This object was examined as part of the research published in Ritual in Early Bronze Age Grave Goods; a six-year research project carried out by Professor John Hunter and Dr Anne Woodward and funded by the Leverhulme Trust. Aided by a large number of other specialists the pair undertood an exhuastive study examining over 1000 objects held in 13 museums across the country in order to provide an extensive overview of burial practices in the period and identify regional practices.