Description

Summary: 1 bone tweezers (broken) perforated at head for suspension, found with a primary cremation placed in a wooden box covered in clay in bell barrow Winterbourne Stoke G4, excavated by William Cunnington

Research results

A set of Bronze Age bone 'tweezers' excavated by William Cunnington from bell barrow Winterbourne Stoke G4. The 'tweezers' were found with the primary cremation of the barrow, which was interred inside a wooden box with possible copper alloy fittings, as well as a pair of daggers. These 'tweezers' actually rarely show signs of wear and the ends of their arms, which are too inflexible to function as tweezers, and it was likely actually used to fasten hair or clothes. They appear to have been used in conjunction with a bone pin, with one found with this burial, although it was lost after excavation.

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.