If you thought the artefact above looked like animal bone, you are quite right. But this is no ordinary bone knife handle. The terminal has been carved to represent an animal head. This form of zoomorphic decoration was common in the Anglo-Saxon period.
Interestingly this lovely find was almost overlooked. It was a wet day and it had been put into a bulk finds tray as no hint of a decoration could be seen beneath the soil and mud that adhered to it. It was only after careful drying and brush cleaning several days later that volunteer, Tom Licence, noticed the decorated terminal.
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