Description

Summary: Fragments of three cylindrical bone mounts cut into sharply pointed zigzags (possibly mountings for a wooden sceptre), found with a primary male inhumation (by right side) in Bowl Barrow Wilsford G5, excavated by William Cunnington

Research results

A group of three denticulated bone shaft mounts, found behind the primary crouched inhumation of Bush Barrow (Wilsford G5) by William Cunnington in 1808. Part of a larger group of five similar bone mounts which were also found with a small gold lozenge-shaped plaque cover and stone mace head. The mounts are incomplete, but were of roughly the same size; they are all sub-cylindrical, with a very pronounced zig-zag cut into either edge. There is some uncertainty as to how, or if, these objects fit together into a single object; the terminal mounts are narrower and have one more point that the median mounts, and the shaft hole of the mace head is also wider than those of the mounts. These issues would not be insurmountable however, and if assumed to form a single decorated sceptre or mace the decorative scheme of zig zags and lozenges is a continuation of that seen on the other ornamental goldwork within the grave.

The Bush Barrow grave is discussed in detail by Needham et al. (2010), who return to Cunnington and Hoare's original notes and publications in order to reassess recontructions of the primary inhumation's layout. They argue for a more typical crouched inhumation, led on its left side, and possition the grave goods accordingly based on Cunnington's descriptions. Their new reconstruction highlights the distance of a small group of rivets and fragments from the rest of the group. Previously interpretted as a helmet or alidade, they reinterpret these as the remains of a dagger with a studded hilt, typical of a period earlier than the rest of the assemblage and suggesting the burial may have disturbed an earlier inhumation.

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.