Accession No

1953.24.3


Description

A small fragment of a bone toggle, or cheek bit. Only a partial area of the elongated oval slot is seen. 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

1953.24.3


Cultural Affliation


Material

Bone


Local Term


Measurements

13mm x 9mm x 49mm Weight 0.006kg


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 small fragment of a bone toggle, or cheek bit. Only a partial area of the elongated oval slot is seen. 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.2023.5604 | 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:282742

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