Whalebone working surface

3D Model

This object is an Iron Age working surface, made from the vertebra of an adult whale, which was recovered during excavations from a collapsed broch at Clachtoll, Assynt.

Despite the areas of significant damage, this artefact is largely complete: what survives is the body of the vertebra, but the naturally protruding spinous and transverse processes of the bone are lost. Despite this damage, evidence of extensive use is visible on one face of the vertebra in the form of tool marks. We don’t know what was being worked on this surface but the tool marks suggest a variety of materials: possibly foodstuffs, hides, bone, wood and stone.

For a better view of the tool marks visible of the surface, go to this 3D model.

We have evidence that the occupants of the broch were producing spindle whorls and it could be possible that the circular area of wear in the centre of the face was related to the production of the whorls.