Description

Summary: Bulbous bronze head of Aunjetitz pin with primary cremation in bell barrow Wimborne St. Giles G33a, excavated by William Cunnington

Research results

The head of an incomplete Bronze Age copper alloy pin found with a primary cremation in bell barrow Wimborne St. Giles G33a, excavated by William Cunnington. One of two similar pins known (the other being from Camerton in Somerset), both are hollow cast with a perforation at their apex; fragments of the shaft were found at the time of excavation, but have not survived. Pins from this period tend to be finely made and quite individual, they also often display relatively heavy levels of wear, suggesting they may have been prized objects with long use lives.

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.