Bone weaving tool. Graffito- or more likely, worn decoration. From VR72-80, Victoria Road, Winchester, Hampshire. Excavated by Winchester Archaeology Section, 1972-1980.

Bone weaving tool

Late Saxon or medieval

Found during excavations by Winchester Museums Service Archaeology Section at Victoria Road in the mid- to late 1970s

This object, sometimes called a pin beater, was used for lifting the warp threads and beating the weft threads during weaving. Designed to pick up a small number of warp threads at one time, it would have been most useful for patterned work. The object seems to have been decorated at one end, but the decoration has partly worn away through use.