Description

Summary: 3 round amber and 2 melon-shaped shale beads (slightly ribbed transverely with lines around their ends), found with a primary cremation in twin bell barrow Wilsford G16, excavated by William Cunnington

Research results

A collection of beads found with a primary cremation under the east barrow of the double bell barrow Wilsford G16, excavated by William Cunnington in the early 19th century. This varied collection of relatively unusual beads contains two of shale and three, of an original four, of amber. Both of the shale beads and the biconical amber bead are finely decorated, possibly immitating fossils, or alternatively it has been suggested that the grooved biconnical amber bead may have been influenced by segmented faience beads; it is unusual in of itself as biconnical amber beads are rare.

Faience beads in Britain and Ireland were discussed by Sheridan and Shortland (2004) in their reassesment of the evidence as part of the National Museum of Scotland's faience project. In addition to obtaining new radiocarbon dates which allow for reassessment of their chronology and production. The suggest that grooved biconnical beads such as this one might have actually been influenced by these segmented faience 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.