Description

Summary: 1 gold cone cover of a shale button (STHEAD.55) with one band of zigzags and three pairs of lines around the circumference and converging chevrons on the base which is perforated twice (made from impressions into the engraved shale cone inside), found with a secondary cremation in bowl barrow Upton Lovell G2e, excavated by William Cunnington

Research results

A Bronze Age gold sheet cover for a connical shale core, excavated in association with a probable secondary cremation from the 'Golden Barrow' (Upton Lovell G2e) by William Cunnington. The cover is formed of two parts, with a flattish 'back' and conical 'front'. Two perforations in the centre of the back give the object a superficial resemblance to a button and it was long interpreted as such. However, this would leave the highly decorated reverse hidden from view and an alternative suggestion is that the object hung plumb-bob like as a pendant or toggle. There is also some question over the how this object was constructed as identical engraved decoration is also visible on the shale core: this might mean that the decoration was first applied to the core and then a 'rubbing' through the gold served as a guide, however, in such a scenario no adhesive could be used as it would surely cause the extremely fine (<0.1mm) gold sheet to tear!

A similar gold-sheet button-cover was found associated with a cremation burial in Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland, where a sample of cremated human bone was radiocarbon dated to 1776-1601 cal BC: right at the early-mid Bronze Age transition.

Claude Maumené (2017) has recently suggested that the decoration of this button is best understood in astrological terms: they argue that the zig-zag border of 40 triangles corresponds to the cycle of the planet Jupiter, whilst the 78 lines forming the chevrons on the base correspond with that of the planet Mars. If they are assumed to represent cycles of days, and that each of the 10 individual grooves of that make of the concentric bands on the face of the button represents a complete cycle, then the totals correspond closely with the 399 and 780 day cycles of the respective planets. They also suggest that the subtle asymmetry of the base (which has one quarter with an extra chevron), demonstrates that the goldsmith was deliberately aiming for the number 78. Maumené makes a similar argument for the Bush Barrow and Clandon barrow Lozenges, whose decorations are suggested to relate to the cycles of the planet Venus.

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.