Description

Summary: 1 conical button of Kimmerage shale (v-bored on base) found with a wrapped primary cremation under an inverted urn in disc barrow Winterbourne Stoke G67, excavated by William Cunnington.

Research results

A Bronze age small shale conical button, found with a primary cremation in disc barrow Winterbourne Stoke G67, excavated by William Cunnington. Buttons in this style appear to have originally been produced in the North, made of Whitby jet, with smaller, shale examples such as this probably immitations using locally available materials, in this case kimmeridge shale. This button was found with a number of amber and faience beads as well as a lost jet bead, however, examination of the wear suggests the button had been used as such, rather than forming the centrepiece of a composite necklace.

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.