Patrickholme bone bead

Patrickholme bone bead
MaterialBone
CreatedBronze Age
DiscoveredPatrickholme, Lanarkshire, Scotland by J. H. Maxwell

The Patrickholme bone bead is a square sectioned bone fragment with a perforated hollow through the middle[1][2]

It was found during archaeological excavations in Patrickholme sand quarry in Lanarkshire, Scotland by J. H. Maxwell in 1949. It has been tentatively suggested that this might be tangible evidence of a prehistoric unit of measurement.[1] It measures 33mm and is suggested to date to the Bronze Age. Due to oxidization its original length is uncertain.[1] Three and a half beads were found in total with five other bones that may have been beads. The Patrickholme bone bead was the only one showing a square section that was likely to have been artificially shaped.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Margaret Ponting (13 February 2003). "Megalithic Callanish". In Clive Ruggles (ed.). Records in Stone: Papers in Memory of Alexander Thom. Cambridge University Press. pp. 423–441. ISBN 978-0-521-53130-6. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  2. ^ a b Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (2007). Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Printed for the Society by Neill and Company. Retrieved 22 April 2011.