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Carved stone ball, HCA 207
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This carved stone ball (Diam. 6.4cm) comprises a sphere of stone with 4 large equidistant bosses surrounded by circles of nine smaller bosses. Three of the larger bosses have irregular engraving of incised line decoration. The bosses are relatively low profile with gentle, less defined definition between the bosses.
This type of stone ball is found primarily in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where nearly 400 examples have been recovered. The rest of Britain and Ireland have also produced examples with dateable contexts from the Late Neolithic to the Iron Age. A variety of stone type was utilised and a wide range of decoration is seen. Some balls are plain, other than the bosses while others have highly ornate and varied patterns. Most are from non-archaeological find sites.
The function of these objects is enigmatic. Their production would have required skill and time. The pattern of bosses across the ball surface would have required an understanding of trigonometry in relation to spherical shapes.
Title: Carved stone ball, HCA 207
Description:
This carved stone ball (Diam.
6.
4cm) comprises a sphere of stone with 4 large equidistant bosses surrounded by circles of nine smaller bosses.
Three of the larger bosses have irregular engraving of incised line decoration.
The bosses are relatively low profile with gentle, less defined definition between the bosses.
This type of stone ball is found primarily in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where nearly 400 examples have been recovered.
The rest of Britain and Ireland have also produced examples with dateable contexts from the Late Neolithic to the Iron Age.
A variety of stone type was utilised and a wide range of decoration is seen.
Some balls are plain, other than the bosses while others have highly ornate and varied patterns.
Most are from non-archaeological find sites.
The function of these objects is enigmatic.
Their production would have required skill and time.
The pattern of bosses across the ball surface would have required an understanding of trigonometry in relation to spherical shapes.
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