Accession No

1953.24.1


Description

A fragment of a bone toggle, or cheek bit. It has been broken longitudinally and the elongated oval shaped slot is incomplete. It is decorated with incised bands, chevrons and circle and dot motifs.


Place

Europe; British Isles; England; Cambridgeshire; Snailwell


Period

Late Iron Age early Roman


Source

Newmarket Rural District Council [donor]; Lethbridge, Thomas Charles [excavator]


Department

Arch


Reference Numbers

1953.24.1


Cultural Affliation


Material

Bone


Local Term


Measurements

15mm x 11mm x 92mm Weight 0.011kg


Events

Context (Display)
An old display label see with the toggles reads 'Fragments of at least six bone toggles with incised decoration. These have been burnt and were found with the cremated human bones'.
Event Date
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson


Context (Found together / assemblage)
Lethbridge [1954]: 'Nos. 1-8 Burnt bone 'cheek-pieces' or 'toggles' (parts of five or six specimens). Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are parts of one pair' [fig. 2].
Event Date
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson


Context (Field collection)
Found in a Belgic chieftain's grave when laying a drain. Excavated by Thomas Lethbridge on 17 May 1952. Grid reference TL 52/645674.
Event Date 17/5/1952
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


Description (Physical description)
Fragment of at least six bone toggles (often described as cheek pieces of snaffle bits). Each have a rectangular slot about the middle of their length. Engraved with incised ring, dot, and chevron ornamentation.

Event Date 1953
Author: maa


Context (References)
Lethbridge, T.C. (1954). 'Burial of an Iron Age Warrior at Snailwell'. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, vol. 47. pp 25-37. p. 28. fig. 2 nos. 1-8.
Event Date 1954
Author: maa


Context (References)
Stead, I.M. (1967). 'A La Tène III Burial at Welwyn Garden City'. Archaeologia, vol. 101. pp. 1-61
Event Date 1967
Author: Jane Pettitt


Description (Physical description)
A fragment of a bone toggle, or cheek bit. It has been broken longitudinally and the elongated oval shaped slot is incomplete. It is decorated with incised bands, chevrons and circle and dot motifs.
Event Date 4/2/2019
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson


Context (Analysis)
Previously dated as Iron Age C and Gallo Belgic.
Event Date 10/6/2022
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


Exhibition (Li Ka Shing Gallery)
EXH.2023.12 | Beneath Our Feet: Archaeology of the Cambridge Region
Event Date 21/6/2023
Author: Imogen Gunn


FM:13396

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