Patrickholme bone bead

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

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

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 edit

References edit

  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.