Skip to content
Pitt Rivers Museum
AboutHire the MuseumNewsletterUniversity of Oxford

1884.37.74.148

Portion of a bone, possibly a bird humerous or rodent clavicle. [MOBB [OPS move] 25/9/2017]

1884.37.74.148

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

Terms and Conditions

If you wish to order a high-resolution image and/or licence its use for print or web publication, exhibition, film, promotional product or any other use, whether in the academic or commercial sector of any print run, then please visit photographic services.

Collection type
Object
Description
Portion of a bone, possibly a bird humerous or rodent clavicle. [MOBB [OPS move] 25/9/2017]
Long description
Animal bone: amphibian or rodent
Date / Period
Date made: Circa 100 Archaeological period: Iron Age, uncertain Archaeological period: Romano-British, uncertain
Date collected
By 1879 July 2
Acquisition information
Donated: 1884
Materials and processes
Material Amphibian Animal, Material Animal Bone, Material Bird Bone
Dimensions
Width: max 5 mm, Length: max 19 mm, Weight 1 g
Object numbers
Accession number: 1884.37.74.148 PR no.: 110/ 9680
Research and responses

According to the English Heritage maintained National Monuments Record (NMR) this object may have been excavated by James Medhurst from an Iron Age shrine and Romano-Celtic temple located to the immediate north of Lancing at TQ 1782 0669. Pitt Rivers is known to have purchased material excavated by Medhurst from the Jordan Hill Romano-Celtic temple near Weymouth (74 of these objects form part of the Museum's founding collection) and consequently it seems possible that some of the Lancing material was also acquired via a similar route. The NMR record describes the Lancing shrine/temple as follows: "Romano Celtic temple near Lancing Ring was excavated in 1828 and 1829 by a Mr Medhurst. Near the Building were thirty five graves one of which evidently contained an overhanging rim urn. Curwen notes that coins suggest an occupation 1st to 3rd centuries, but Frere commented that although some IA 'A' sherds were found the main occupation belongs to Belgic times, and in particular to the Tiberian and Claudian periods. Little or no specifically Roman pottery had been recovered from the actual temple site though quantities of Ro sherds occur about 50 yds down the hill to the south possibly the excavation spoil heap...The existence of Bronze and I A Sepulchral pottery suggests the existence of a sacred site before the Roman period. Finds in Pitt Rivers Museum Oxford". The site is recorded under Monument Number 395386, the record can be accessed online at http://pastscape.english-heritage.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=395386. [MN 11/01/2010]

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 19/07/2013]

Search terms: Physical Anthropology, Bone