Description

Summary: 1 bronze awl with antler handle, found with a primary inhumation (in an elm trunk coffin) in bell barrow Winterbourne Stoke G5, excavated by William Cunnington.

Research results

A Bronze Age copper alloy awl, complete with its carved antler handle, found with the primary inhumation of Winterbourne Stoke G5 by William Cunnington in the early 1800s. This burial was placed within an elm coffin above which was encountered 'a large and heavy piece of fossil wood... resembling a bunch of twigs'. This awl was placed on the chest of the burial, alongside a dagger of continental type, with a similar dagger by the burial's thigh and a continental 5-handled vessel by their head. The tool was probably used in leather working, although the lack of wear on some examples has led some to suggest they were used in marking human skin!

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.