Description

Summary: 1 perforated bone knife found with a primary male and female (shaman/metalworker?) inhumation in bowl barrow Upton Lovell G2a, excavated by William Cunnington

Research results

A Bronze age perforated bone point, one of many found with the primary double inhumation in bowl barrow Upton Lovell G2a, 'The Shaman Burial', when it was excavated by William Cunnignton in 1801. These points were found in two groups in the grave, with 'two dozen' found at the breast and 'more than three dozen' found around the feet, and it has been argued that they are evidence for a special garment or cloak in which the points and perforated boar's tusks formed ornamental fringes, in a manner comparable to historically attested Siberian shamans.

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.