Description

Summary: 1 bone pommel with 5 rivet holes in both sides and two in the end found with a primary cremation (in an upright food vessel) in bowl barrow Winterbourne Stoke G66, excavated by William Cunnington.

Research results

A bronze age bone pommel found with its blade in an urn containing the primary cremation of Winterbourne Stoke G66, excavated by William Cunnington in the 19th century. The pommel has a damaged socket, possibly evidence of it being attached to a different hilt from its original, but mostl interestingly, recent analysis has shown that this and many other Early Bronze Age pommels were infact made from the bones of a whale or other cetacean!

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.