Bone peg

This bone peg was found at Howmae on North Ronaldsay in Orkney. It was used sometime between 100 BC and 400 AD.

The roughly made peg was carved from the bone of a sea mammal such as a whale or dolphin.

The skeletal remains of whales and other marine mammals were widely exploited in coastal areas of Scotland, especially in the largely treeless Northern and Western Isles. People collected bone from stranded carcasses of whales, porpoises and dolphins.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-100-038-855-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland X.GO 64
Date:	Between 100 BC and 400 AD
Material:	Bone, from portion of large whale bone; flattish; oval hole in centre
Dimensions:	5.25" - 8.50" L
What:	Peg, tent
Subject:
Who:	Dr William Traill John Traill
Where:	Scotland, Orkney, North Ronaldsay, Howmae
Event:
Description:	Elongated segment of cetacean bone resembling a tent-peg, from Howmae, North Ronaldsay
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