NOTES ON A BONE OBJECT. 91
that the holes come on the two slightly upturned ends of the
bone (which, in the case of the Ramsey specimen, is a humerus
of horse), so that the holes would probably not have touched the
ice when it was of an even surface, particularly before the bone
became worn down by use. It has been suggested that the Lincoln
example was a sledge-runner, and I venture to think that this is
also the explanation of the Ramsey specimen; in which case, the
method of attachment is easier to understand, as well as the
length of both these specimens, which exceeds that of the ordi-
nary skate. The usual way of fastening the bone skate was by a
cord fastened through the hole in the pointed end, which, after
passing round the foot,
was fixed by a plug in
another hole made hori-
zontally in the bone at
the opposite end.
Although the backs of
the bones classed with the
Braintree object are in-
variably hacked more or
less smooth, as if to ad-
mit of their lying on some
level surface, none of
them have the polish so
characteristic of the
skate, neither is there any
sign of wear or friction

on any part of them.

Fig. 13.—two bone skates from Moorfields,
london (in possession of the writer).
The sides of the scooped
cut still bear the marks of the knife or other implement with
which it was formed, thus clearly showing that this portion has
not been exposed to any great amount of friction. The holes
may have served to secure the implement in position by means
of dowels of some sort; for, when they occur, they are always
vertical as regards the flattened under-surface, while the sharp,
unabraded edges of the holes suggest some such stationary pur-
pose rather than one where friction would be caused. Should
this be so, the methods employed in fastening this implement
would seem to have varied for special purposes, or it would
appear that it was a matter of indifference whether it was