Description

Summary: 1 polished oval macehead of limestone containing the fossil stromatoporoid, perforated through the middle and containing traces of bronze, found with a primary male inhumation (by right side and possibly forming a sceptre) in Bowl Barrow Wilsford G5, excavated by William Cunnington

Research results

A Bronze age perforated stone mace head, excavated from the primary burial of Bush Barrow (Wilsford G5) by William Cunnington in 1808. The macehead, which is polished and of corraline limestone, was found as part of a group of artefacts behind the crouched burial; the group also containing a number of zig-zagging cylindrical bone mounts, a small gold lozenge-shaped plaque cover and a number of 'bone rings' which were not retained at the time. Traces of copper alloy corrosion around the mouth of the perforation relate to a 'neat ornament of brass on the top' which was fastened to the shaft by a further copper alloy pin. There is some uncertainty as to how, or if, this collection of objects fitted together, however if it is assumed that the group comprises the remains of an ornamental sceptre or mace the decorative scheme of zig-zags and lozenges is a continuation of that seen on 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.