Horse bone skate.

Collection type: Object
Description: Horse bone skate.
Geographical reference: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Europe > Northern Europe > United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; England London
Person: Maker Unknown Maker; Field collector Henry Balfour; PRM source Henry Balfour
Date
Date collected: By 1897
Acquisition information: Loaned: 03/1897 Bequeathed: 1939
Materials and processes: Material Horse Bone Animal, Process Perforated, Process Carved
Dimensions: Length: max 222 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1897.83.7
Research and responses: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_skating ... The exact time and process by which humans first learned to ice skate is not known, though archaeologists believe the activity was widespread. The convenience and efficiency of ice skating to cross large, icy areas is shown in archaeological evidence by the finding of primitive animal bone ice skates in places such as Russia, Scandinavia, Great Britain, Germany, and Switzerland. The runners were made from bones of cattle. They ground down until they formed a flat gliding surface, and thongs tied them to the feet. ... [AP 28/09/2006]

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