Description

Summary: 1 ring bead found by feet of a primary female inhumation in Bowl barrow Preshute G1a, excavated by Howard B. Cunnington, 1907.

Research results

A Bronze Age stone bead found with the primary inhumation of bowl barrow Preshute G1a when it was excavated by Howard Cunnington in 1907. The wealthy grave belonged to an elderly woman who had been burried crouching on her side. As well as other grave goods, a collection of beads and pendants, probably the remains of a composite necklace, were found behind the burial's head, however, three further beads were found near the burial's feet, of which this is one. This bead is made of a pink-red laminated mudstone, probably from a source in the South West or Wales.

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.