NHER 36533 (Find Spot record) - Possible Mesolithic bone harpoon

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Summary

In around 1950 a possible Mesolithic bone harpoon was found off the coast of Trimingham by a fisherman. The authenticity of this object was subsequently questioned, although the reasons for this are not clear.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TG24SE
Civil Parish NORTH SEA, -, NORFOLK

Map

Around 1950. Stray Find.
Found by fisherman off the coast of Trimingham at approximately TG 28 40:
1 Mesolithic barbed bone point. See digital photograph.
Identified by R. Jacobi (BM), see description in file.
Subsequently added to NMR - ID 1449593 (S1).
This discovery was report in (S2). See (S3) for discussion of the early prehistory of the North Sea.
K. Hinds (NLA) 4 December 2001. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 27 July 2014.

January 2007.
In January 2007 it was reported that R. Jacobi was now of the opinion that this object was a fake. No reasons were given other than that "it does not work as an artefact". See copy of email correspondence in file.
Given that Jacobi's original report raised no doubt regarding the authenticity of this object, if it is a hoax it is an elaborate one.
D. Gurney (NLA) 9 February 2007.

  • --- Illustration: Finds Illustrations.
  • --- Photograph: NLA. 2001. Finds Photograph. Polaroid.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • <S1> Unpublished Document: National Monuments Record. 2006. NMR Number TG 24 SE 14.
  • <S2> Article in Serial: Gurney, D. (ed.). 2002. Archaeological Finds in Norfolk, 2001. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIV Pt I pp 149-162. p 150.
  • <S3> Article in Serial: Coles, B. J. 1998. Doggerland: a Speculative Survey. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. Vol 64 pp 45-81. pp 45-81.
  • HARPOON (Mesolithic - 10000 BC? to 4001 BC?)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Sep 11 2014 8:57PM

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