Accession No
1953.24.2
Description
A fragment of a bone toggle, or cheek bit. It has been broken longitudinally but the elongated oval shaped slot is complete. 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
1953.24.2
Cultural Affliation
Material
Bone
Local Term
Measurements
19mm x 11mm x 82mm Weight 0.015kg
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)
Description for 1953.24[.1-10]: '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: Eleanor Wilkinson
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: Eleanor Wilkinson
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 but the elongated oval shaped slot is complete. 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)
Conservation (Remedial)
CON.2023.5603 | Remedial
Event Date 23/2/2023
Author: Kirstie French
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:282741
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