Viking Jorvik Bone Pins or Long Time No Post

Hiya!  Long time no post.  I've been distracted by motherhood.  My kid is awesome and cute and busy and I'm OMG tired, so when I'm not making stuff for the SCA or racing around after the kid or changing fish tank water, or being mesmerized by the little swimming things, or brushing fuzzy bunnies, I'm totally not blogging.  Zoning out on FB, but not blogging.  So I may be back to blogging.  This post will be my test run on how well Blogger handles photos & such (now). 
Edit: woo-hoo!  drag & drop is back!  I may be blogging again!
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Fig 1.  Decorative bone pins found at Coppergate
My unfinished reproduction of the 2nd from left.

Decorative bone pins may have been used to fasten dress straps, veils, cloaks or other woven items; or as hair pins, though these are a little short for that. Many bone pins found in Viking Jorvik[1] have a large hole in the decorative head, for a cord to loop around and hold everything in place.  Archeologists assume these pins were worn in pairs, but they are usually found alone, likely because they are easily lost (fig 2).  Most of the pins found in Jorvik were made from pig fibula.  Tools from the Coppergate dig site included a fine-toothed saw, files, and knives. No bone pins have been found in a grave, but most archeologists assume their function was similar to the metal ring broaches, which also have a decorative head with a hole, a ring and a chain to hold material, and have been found in a woman’s grave at either shoulder, presumably holding a cloak or dress in place, (McGregor, 1982, fig 2. /  Fig 3). Carved bone pins may have been worn in place of the metal broaches for less formal occasions.

It is difficult to date decorative bone pins as there are no distinct style trends aside from broad Roman, Viking, and Medieval era aesthetics, and even that is difficult – each pair seems to have been unique.  Radiocarbon Dating (RCD) is relatively accurate, but a portion of the material must be destroyed, and funding is rarely available making it impractical.  Pins are best dated according to deposition layers, giving us the approximate date of last use. 

Fig 2. Lloyds Bank excavation, McGregor 1982

Fig 4.  Lloyds Bank excavation, McGregor 1982
Shows copper and bone pins in various states of finish - all discards. 

Fig: 3. (murdering spelling), Dunphiers?
copper decorative pin

Fig. 5.  Pair of bone pins.

This pair of bone pins is modeled after the 2^nd from the left (fig 1).  I guessed at the size based on shaft thickness and proportion, and the possible length of usable bone being a maximum of 7” from a large sow, with most usable space averaging 4”.  The fibula is strong and has a long smooth shaft that tapers from one end to the other, making a natural transition between head and point easier.  The bone was boiled and debrided, then allowed to dry for several weeks (months).  I cut the ends off and then sawed the bone in half for ease of handling.  Removing the bone matrix inside was annoying but not difficult, a chisel worked best.  I made the first pins by marking out the design on the bone, carving the lines deeper, and gently hammering out the remainder when it got close.  Cutting with a knife took a long time, but thankfully a fine blade saw was found in the Coppergate dig, so I felt free to use faster tools – both of these pins were cut with a saw.  I filed the pins into shape, and down to size, and then drilled the holes.  Many pins and other bone tools have some of the marrow matrix left on the back, so I left that as well, though it looks odd and unfinished to modern eyes.

So far, I have gotten over 15 items from one bone and there is more material to cut.  The bone is easy to work using both knives and a saw.  The main precaution is not inhaling the dust as that can be hazardous.

1st pins tucked in cloth with very messy cords.

The cords are 5 strand fingerloop braids (not pictured), the actual configuration and knots used in the originals are unknown.  This is where experimental archeology has to take over until or unless a major find with bone pins in situ comes to light.  

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[1] Viking age Jorvik refers to the city of York, England from 866-1066.  It has been continuously inhabited from 8,000 BCE.  In 71 CE the Romans ‘founded’ the city as Eboracum, then the capitol of Northumbria, then Jorvik and it finally became York in 1068 when William the Conqueror laid waste to the city and installed Norman rulers.

Bibliography:

Historiska
(purse, thread holder, needle) (relates to other items in this project)
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&langpair=sv|en&u=http://mis.historiska.se/mis/sok/bild.asp?uid=28686

Viking Jorvik Center Gallery
(bone pins)  Seriously check out this site, they are amazing!
http://jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk/about-jorvik/gallery/

Medieval Garments Reconstructed: Norse Clothing Patterns
(fingerloop braiding & yarn)

Hair care info
(hairstyles/pins)
http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/hairstyl.shtml

Norse boneworking blog post.
https://halldorviking.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/cannon-bones-the-dark-age-boneworkers-best-resource/

Anglo-Scandinavian Finds from Lloyds Bank, Pavement and Other Sites. 
Arthur McGregor, 1982.  (free pdf)York Archeological Trust For Excavation and Research

History of York, England
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York