This whittle tang knife blade survives complete with its decorative, anthropomorphic bone handle.

Using Goodall’s typology, the blade is identified as a Type C. It has a straight back running parallel to the cutting edge, except at the tip where it slopes downwards.

The highly polished bone handle, possibly fashioned from a cattle metapodial, is carved to represent a human head wearing either a hat or a crown. The level of finish suggests careful workmanship.

Stylistically, the knife most likely dates to the late 12th-early 13th centuries, although a later Tudor date is also possible.

This is an unusual find. Although medieval bone knife handles were occasionally carved into figural or architectural forms, such decoration is typically simple. This example is a high-quality piece and would likely have belonged to an individual of some means.