Description

Summary: 1 conical jet button from a primary cremation in the bronze age bowl barrow, Amesbury G39, excavated by William Cunnington

Research results

A small conical Bronze Age jet button, found with a primary cremation in bowl barrow Amesbury G39 when it was excavated by William Cunnington in the early 19th century. Jet buttons are found widely across Britain and Ireland and most are associated with Beaker period graves, although a small number, mainly in wessex, are sometimes found with slightly later graves. This bead displays heavy wear around its perforations, and may have formed a composite necklace along with a number of jet and amber beads also found in the same grave.

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.