Anglo-Saxons 13: tusk and jaw
It’s a fragment of jaw bone from a wild boar, including the tusk, and socket holes for some of the teeth (now missing).
Only male wild boars grow tusks. The one on the right is a female and doesn’t have any.
Did you know?
Wild boars can grow to almost two metres long and one metre high and females and young males live in family groups. The older males live alone. They are the ancestors of our pigs.
They will eat almost anything! This includes small animals, plants, nuts, insects and worms.
The wild boar is a very shy creature but can be highly dangerous when threatened due to their speed, intelligence, teeth and tusks.
Fascinating facts
The wild boar was important to the Anglo Saxons as it was a symbol of strength, protection, fertility, plenty and kingship. To hunt wild boar was a sign of bravery.
The boar is linked to the Norse gods of Freyja, and her brother Freyr, they both rode on wild boars.
They were sacrificed to bring a good harvest and abundance of food.
Boars were also used as decorative features on Anglo-Saxon helmets as a sign of bravery and luck.