Summary

Base of antler from the cemetery at Barns Farm, Dalgety Bay, Fife

Accession Number

X.EQ 902

Other references

None

Original description

[MOS List, II.5.1, Death: object list by case, JAS 3.2.98. Case no.: V08 - Identity: part of community]. [One of] Grave goods from cemetery at Barns Farm: - from Cist 1: - base of antler. [name redacted] notes, 20 February 2014: Description after Watkins 1982: Base of antler (FRN 12; NMAS EQ 902) Miss Barnetson has kindly contributed the following note: a degraded piece of antler (?), approximately 42-5 mm in overall length. Unfortunately this object is somewhat squashed so that the 'coronet' presents an oblique face. The greater and lesser diameters of the base are 26 and 18 mm respectively, but it should be noted that the degeneration of the outer surface is pronounced and the dimensions of the original would have been greater. This most closely resembles a cast antler of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in that the base, where it would have been attached to the pedicle, is concave and not convex as in Red deer. Admittedly this inner, spongy part is usually first to disintegrate, but the Dalgety example does not appear to be badly eroded on the base although the burr (ie the bony nodules framing the coronet), have virtually disappeared. The outer part is composed of regularly striated bony material. If this is indeed reindeer antler it must belong to the woodland as opposed to the barrenground variety, the former having survived in Scotland into historic times.

Associated person/people (e.g. excavator/former collection)

None

Discovery / field collection

Date of discovery

Not recorded

Method (e.g. excavation)

Not recorded

Place (i.e. location of discovery)

Barns Farm, Dalgety Bay, Fife, Scotland, Northern Europe

Grid reference

Not recorded

Acquisition

Acquisition date

1982

Acquisition source (i.e. name of donor)

Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer

Acquisition source role (e.g. donor)

Agent

Image

None