Bone tool for decorating pottery, Cill Donnain

3D Model

This small length of bone, only 60mm long, was beautifully shaped into a tool. Short teeth were carefully carved into one end, rounded with wear from use. It was most likely used to decorate pottery. The engraved X on one side probably marked it out as someone’s personal property – decoration is quite unusual on Iron Age bonework. This was a much-loved and well-used tool; its surface is polished from handling. Found during excavations on an Iron Age settlement at Cill Donnain, South Uist, Scotland.

Accession No.: SF 142 Material: Animal bone Period: Iron Age

Model produced by Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark, 28/03/22