Pinhead or playing piece made from a horse's tooth

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This pinhead or playing piece, carved from a horse's tooth, was found at Howe on Sanday in Orkney. It probably fitted onto a metal peg. The object was used sometime between 200 BC and 400 AD.

The object, here pictured from above looking down on it, is perforated on the underside. It has been polished smooth.

The teeth of animals were used for a number of objects in the past, including pinheads, pendants, playing pieces and amulets. If this object was used as a pin, it was probably on a dress pin.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-038-039-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.GA 1170
• Date: Between 200 BC and 400 AD
  
• Material: Bone, horse's tooth; flat spheroid; perforated below
  Pinhead / playing piece
  
• Dimensions: 0.69" H x 0.94" D
  
• What: Pinhead / playing piece
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Sanday, Howe
  
• Event:
• Description: Perforated pinhead or playing piece made from a polished horse's tooth, from Howe, Sanday, Orkney
  
• References:
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