Description

Summary: 1 conical shale button with one band of zigzags and three bands of three lines around the circumference with converging chevrons on the base (which is V-perforated), found with a secondary (?) cremation in bowl barrow Upton Lovell G2e, excavated by William Cunnington

Research results

A Bronze Age shale core of a connical pendant or button, originally deocrated with a gold sheet cover. It was excavated in association with a probable secondary cremation from the 'Golden Barrow' (Upton Lovell G2e) by William Cunnington. Two perforations in the centre of the base give the object a superficial resemblance to a button and it was long interpreted as such. However, this would leave the highly decorated reverse hidden from view and an alternative suggestion is that the object hung plumb-bob like as a pendant or toggle. There is also some question over the how this object was constructed as the decoration visible on the shale core is identical to that seen on the cover. This might mean that the decoration was first applied to the core and then a 'rubbing' through the gold served as a guide, however, in such a scenario no adhesive could be used as it would surely cause the extremely fine (<0.1mm) gold sheet to tear!

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.