Bone awl where part of the bone has been removed creating a flat surface leading to a point (which is now broken). A hole has been created through the condyle end and at one point an attempt at a hole. [CG [Excav. PR] 02/07/2013]

Collection type: Object
Description: Bone awl where part of the bone has been removed creating a flat surface leading to a point (which is now broken). A hole has been created through the condyle end and at one point an attempt at a hole. [CG [Excav. PR] 02/07/2013]
Geographical reference: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Europe > Northern Europe > United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; England Dorset Weymouth And Portland Weymouth Jordan Hill
Person: Maker Unknown Maker; Field collector James A.S. Medhurst; PRM source Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection
Date / Period: Archaeological period: Romano-British
Date collected: By 1879 July 2
Acquisition information: Donated: 1884
Materials and processes: Material Animal Bone, Process Carved, Process Perforated
Dimensions: Depth: max 16 mm, Width: max 22 mm, Length: max 106 mm, Weight 16 g
Object numbers: Accession number: 1884.118.166 PR no.: 34/ 9680
Research and responses: According to http://www.weymouthmuseum.co.uk/mushistory.htm the James A.S. Medhurst collection was sold by Sotheby's in 1879, this is probably when Pitt Rivers obtained it (see Biographies for further information) [AP 08/11/2004]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Hill_Roman_Temple: Jordan Hill Roman Temple is a Roman ruin situated on a hill above Bowleaze Cove in the eastern suburbs of Weymouth in Dorset, England. grid reference SY701820. Amateur excavations in 1843 found coins that suggest the site was used in the 4th century, during the later years of the Roman occupation. The temple is thought to have been pagan, as similar archaeology nearby at Maiden Castle and at Lydney in Gloucestershire show a resurgence of paganism at this time. In the 20th century the site became property of the Ministry of Works and now English Heritage. [See http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server.php?show=conProperty.268] [AP 29/09/2006]
The Probable Roman Temple at Jordan Hill [SY 6989 8207], and James Medhursts excavation is recorded on the English Heritage maintained National Monuments Record under monument no. 452622. The record describes Medhursts findings as follows: In 1842 Mr Medhurst excavated the site and made no adequate plans or report but found a square building with an entrance either on the south or east side. In the South-East corner and partly underlying the main wall was a ceremonial pit at the bottom of which were 2 Roman urns, an iron spearhead [possibly 1884.120.45 or 1884.120.48?], a broad sword, an iron knife [possibly 1884.121.4, 1884.121.12 or 1884.121.13?] and a steelyard and above them were bones of birds. The only dateable coin was of Theodosius (AD 379-395). The entire interior of the building was excavated and steps leading up to the entrance were found also the pavement of a portico or colonnade and the foundations of 4 columns. Outside this was a courtyard surrounded by a wall 5 ft thick enclosing an area variously given as 100 and 200 ft square. Inside the enclosure were found many coins and bones and horns mainly of young bulls. The conclusion was reached that it was a temple. A Roman cemetery adjacent to the temple was also excavated by James Medhurst, and it may be that some of the urns [1884.37.54 - .56 and 1884.37.57 .1] are from this site. The NMR record also notes that further artefacts from the Medhurst excavations are held in the British Museum and Dorset County Museum. The record can be accessed online at http://pastscape.english-heritage.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=452622. [MN 12/06/2009]
Although James Medhurst did not publish his findings he evidently had a number of visitors to the site, who took notes and sketches. Two of these, HC Harford and C Warne published in 1844 their own accounts of Medhurst's excavations, Harford's being particularly detailed. Warne also included an account in his 1872 publication (pages 225 - 229). Further excavation was carried out and published by CD Drew in 1932. Full references: Harford, H.C. 1844. Essay on the Roman Remains, near Weymouth, read before the Antiquarian Society of London on March 21st 1844. London: George H Nichols; Warne, C. 1844a. ‘Roman remains at Preston near Weymouth’ The Gentleman’s Magazine 20 (Feb): 185-187; Warne, C. 1844b. ‘Roman ruins at Weymouth.’ The Gentleman’s Magazine 21 (Dec): 634-635; Warne, C. 1872. Ancient Dorset: the Celtic, Roman, Saxon and Danish antiquities of the county. Bournemouth: Sydenham; Drew, C.D. 1932. ‘The excavations at Jordan Hill, 1931.’ Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeology Society 53:265-276. [CB 8/12/2009]
Associated publications: Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge 1879. Catalogue of Antiquities and Works of Art including the collection of the Baron Heath...and the Musuem of Romano-British pottery and Roman personal ornaments formed by the late Mr James Medhurst of Worthing and Weymouth; comprising vessels in terra-cotta, bronze figures &c., cinerary urns, early Roman implements, beads, Roman coins...(1-2 July 1879). London: Dryden Press (Messrs Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge). I have placed a copy of this catalogue on file in the RDF for 1884.2.1 [Dan Hicks 08/07/2013]

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