This is a toggle made of animal bone.
It was used as a fastener, perhaps for clothing, instead of a buckle on a belt, or to close a leather or cloth bag.
It was excavated from the Iron Age site on Folkestone’s East Cliff between 2010 and 2013, during the ‘Folkestone: A Town Unearthed’ project .
The dot and circle decoration had been burnt into it.
It’s dark brown because it’s been in the ground for over 2000 years and has been stained by the soil. When it was new it would have been a pale ivory colour.
Fascinating Fact
Toggles are still used today to fasten all sorts of objects including hand bags and duffle coats - like the fine blue example worn by Paddington Bear!
Copyright: Canterbury Archaeological Trust
