Description

Summary: 1 cylindrical pebble hammerstone of dense quartzite, found with a primary male and female (shaman/metalworker?) inhumation in bowl barrow Upton Lovell G2a, excavated by William Cunnington

Research results

A cylindral pebble used as a hammerstone or pestle, found alongside a number of other grave goods with the primary double-inhumation of Upton Lovell G2a, excavated by William Cunnington in 1801. This grave, which was recorded at the time of being of a man and woman, contained a number of unusual grave goods, many of which are now thought to have been metal workers tools, and led to the suggestion that the burial contained a 'shaman'.

This object and the other grave goods found with the Upton Lovell G2a primary double-burial have been examined by Tsoraki et al. (in prep.) as part of the Beyond the Three Age System project. This analysis identified use wear consistent with its use as a pounding tool or pestle.