Ancient Toys

Snorie Bane

Also called "Buzz-bone" or "Spinning bone"

Photo Kindly Loaned to us by the Shetland Museum
http://photos.shetland-museum.org.uk/index.php

The Snorie Bane is an ancient toy made from a Pig's metatarsal bone and is aptly named for the loud snoring sound it produces. This bone is found in the foot of a pig and each foot contains 2 metatarsal bones. The Snorie Bane has entertained children since the early bronze age and was still popular up to the beginning of the 20th century. Archaeologists have uncovered an abundance of these bones all over Europe and until recently were unaware of their use.

The bone was removed, cleaned, and a piece of twine or sinew was threaded trough or tied around the middle placing the bone in the center of two long looped handles. With one loop in each hand you flip the bone in a circular motion towards your body. When the twine has built up some tension from being twisted you steadily pull your hands out to the side causing the bone to reverse direction. The speed at which it unwinds causes the bone to produce the snoring sound.

You can discover more about the Snori Bane on the following websites:
http://photos.shetland-museum.org.uk/index.php?a=indexes&s=item&key=IYToxOntpOjA7czozOiJQaWciO30=&pg=4
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1366193/Toys-that-make-a-noise-go-back-to-the-Bronze-Age.html
http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba64/news.shtml (bottom of the page)

Carved Animal Figures

Little animals, usually pigs which were carved out of stone or chalk have been laid to rest with iron age children. The oldest was discovered at Stonehenge and dated between 800 and 700BCE. There is still some discussion on weather the wee animals were ceremonial pieces or lovingly created for the Child's amusement. These little stone pigs have a much softer appearance then the boar figurines typically created for ritual use.

The following websites lead to articles on the discovery of a Chalk Piglet:
www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/is-this-britains-oldest-toy.htm
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/081021-stonehenge-toy_2.html

Wooden Swords

Only a handful wooden swords have survived the test of time. Wet conditions prove favorable in preserving these rare objects. One of the finest examples was found in a peat bog in Orkney and was dated between 900 and 815 BCE. There are many theories on what the swords uses actually were. Some believe them to be toys or used in ceremony, others feel they are practice weapons or perhaps used as weaving tools.

For a more in-depth look at a couple examples of wooden swords please see the websites below: http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/groatsetter_sword.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/celts/pages/breiddin.shtml

Rattleback

Also known as Celtic Stone, Celt, Rattlerock, Rebellious Stone, Wobblestone, and Anagyre

Behold the mysterious celt,
with a property that amuses.
One way it will spin,
the other way it refuses
(Unknown Author)

This wee object will spin smoothly and quickly in one direction, but when spun in the "wrong" or reverse direction, it will soon stop, rattle and hop up and down, then begin to spin in the opposite direction. They were constructed of wood or stone and were varying sizes. These properties were first discovered in prehistoric tools such as axe heads and chisels. Finds from around two thousand years ago suggest that the smaller and similarly shaped versions of these chisels were not created for practical use but were however made for amusement. They have been discovered by archeologists in Northern Europe and Egypt.

Further Reading:
http://www.emmanuelpeluchon.com/rattleback.ws
http://www.physics.brown.edu/physics/demopages/demo/solids/demos/torque.html
http://www.enotes.com/topic/Rattleback
http://www.flinnsci.com/Documents/demoPDFs/PhysicalSci/PS10440.pdf

BBC Wales - Iron Age Celts
A fun, interactive way for Children to learn about daily Life during the Iron Age
www.bbc.co.uk/wales/celts/