Description

Summary: 1 gold-mounted amber disk found by head of a primary female inhumation in Bowl barrow Preshute G1a, excavated by Howard B. Cunnington, 1907.

Research results

A Bronze Age gold mounted amber disc found with the primary inhumation of bowl barrow Preshute G1a, excavated by Howard Cunnington in 1907. This wealthy grave belonged to an elderly woman who had been buried crouched on her side; she had been buried with a grape cup, three awls, a small dagger with an amber pommel, and a number of articles of jewellery, of which this is one. Formed of a thin amber disc bound around the edge by two pieces of gold sheet, it is likely that the pendant had a long life as its V-shaped perforation and groove are likely secondary features. The pendant was found in a heap of other beads near the head of the burial, and was probably part of a composite necklace.

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.

This object was on loan to the University of Leicester (February 2023) for wear and compositional analyses. Non-destructive techniques using microscopes, X-Ray Fluorescence and a Scanning Electron Microscope. The project will improve our understanding about how the objects were made, used and deposited. This research, funded by the British Academy, was led by Dr Rachel Crellin, and supported by Dr Christina Tsoraki, Dr Oliver Harris and Dr Christopher Standish. 'From Prestige to Practice: Shedding New Light on Early Bronze Age Gold through Microwear and Scanning Electron Microscope Analysis'. Results are expected in 2024.