Description

Summary: 3 bi-conical shale beads and 1 shale ring-bead with ridges, found with a primary cremation in bowl barrow Wilsford G32, excavated by William Cunnington

Research results

Four shale beads found with a primary cremation in bowl barrow Wilsford G32, excavated by William Cunnington. The three fusiform beads included in this necklace were probably originally from a spacer-plate necklace, interestingly, these may provide evidence for such necklaces being made of shale (they are typically made of jet) or else they may have been locally made replacements for lost jet beads.

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.