Patrickholme bone bead
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The Patrickholme bone bead is a square sectioned bone fragment with a perforated hollow through the middle.[1][2]
| Patrickholme bone bead | |
|---|---|
| Material | Bone |
| Created | Bronze Age |
| Discovered | Patrickholme, Lanarkshire, Scotland by J. H. Maxwell |
It was found during archaeological excavations in Patrickholme sand quarry in Lanarkshire, Scotland by J. H. Maxwell in 1949. It has been tentatively suggested that this might be tangible evidence of a prehistoric unit of measurement.[1] It measures 33mm and is suggested to date to the Bronze Age. Due to oxidization its original length is uncertain.[1] Three and a half beads were found in total with five other bones that may have been beads. The Patrickholme bone bead was the only one showing a square section that was likely to have been artificially shaped.[2]