Description

Summary: 1 perforated bone point, highly polished, found with primary cremation in Bowl Barrow Wimborne St Giles G20, excavated by William Cunnington.

Research results

A Bronze Age bone point excavated by William Cunnington, found with the primary cremation of Wimborne St Giles G20. The burial was found deposited within an urn with a bundle of fabric and a dagger. Analysis of the wear on these points suggests that they were not used as tools, and that they were suspended by their perforations, probably as part of a pendant or garment.

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.