Chronology: Broad Period: New Stone Age - Neolithic:

Specific Circa: 4800 - 2500 BC – Doggerland Salt – Marsh:

Dimensions and weight:

Diametre [upon the oval]. 91 mm x 104 mm:

Height: 71 mm:

Weight: 762 grams:

Description:

This is likely a fossilised Echinocorys, a type echinoid [sea urchin] which, has a naturally occurring oval doomed spherical form: The creature existed in the Cretaceous period 144 – 66 million years ago: It has however, been modified by modern-humans in the prehistoric Neolithic era: It is unclear to me if this tool was hand held or hafted, the underside recessed cylindrical cavity, appears to show flint modification via percussion knapping and cortex modification: It may have been hafted upon a wooden branch junction or Red Deer antler: Unfortunately we may never known beyond ‘experimental archaeology’:

All of the outer surfaces are highly polished and the front striking doom clearly shows impact and grinding wear evidence of impact striking with external erosion of the outer cortex:

Provenance: Original Finder

Recovered upon the Fen edge in Northern Cambridgeshire along a length of ancient dry riverbed: This area of land would once have been a salt- marsh with possible tidal flooding from time to time at the time when this tool was in use: Interestingly I have recovered a number of tools in the general area suggesting possible semi-permanent seasonal occupation:

Reference material and further reading: 

Where possible ancient artifacts may be referenced to similar material observed in the following publications within my collection:

• British Artefacts Vol.1, 2 and 3: Brett Hammond [Greenlight Publishing 2010]:

• Celtic & Roman Artefacts: Nigel Mills [Greenlight Publishing 2007]:

• SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome: Mary Beard [Profile Books 2015]:

• 50 Bronze Age Artefacts: Portable Antiquities Scheme: Dot Boughton [Amberley Publishing 2021]:

• Pottery in Britain 4000BC to AD 1900: Lloyd Laing [Greenlight Publishing 2003]:

• British Iron Age Coins In The British Museum: Richard Hobbs [British Museum 1996]:

• Swords of The Viking Age: Ian Peirce: [The Boydell Press 2003]:

• Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society Volume 85: [Cambridge University Press

  2019]

• Mesolithic Europe: Geoff Bailey / Penny Spikins [Cambridge University Press 2008]

• Viking Art: James Graham-Campbell: [Thames & Hudson, London 2018]

• Roman Coins Vol. 1, 2 & 3: David R Sear: [Spink London 2000]:

• The Roman Cavalry: Karen R. Dixon: [B. . Batsford 1997]:

• Rome’s Saxon Shore: Coastal Defenses of Roman Britain AD 250 – 500: Nic Fields [Osprey Publishing 2006]:

• Amulets of Ancient Egypt: Carol Andrews: [University of Texas Press / British Museum Press 1994]:

• The Uniforms of the Roman World: Military dress, weapons, artillery, ships, siege engines and fortifications: Kevin F. Killey: [Anness Publishing 2017]:

Where possible finger rings may be referenced to similar material observed in the following publications within my collection:

• Victorian and Albert Museum CATALOGUE OF FINGER RINGS 1930: C.C.Oman [Anglia Publishing. 1991 – Now out of print]:

• Finger Rings: Diana Scarisbrick / Martin Henig: [Ashmolean Museum Oxford. 2003]:

• Ancient Rings An Illustrated Collectors Guide: T. N. Polio: [McFarland & Co Inc. 2018:

• 1000 Rings: Inspiring Adornments of the Hand: Le Van, Marthe; Ebendorf, Robert [W: Lark Books 2004]:

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