Upper part of carved whetstone-sceptre, similar to that found in Sutton Hoo boat burial. Found in 1956, on loan to Lincoln Museum. {1}{2}{3}{4} This is the upper terminal from an exceptionally large, tapered, whetstone/ sceptre. It is made from an unusual, large, presumably specially selected piece of distinctive stone type imported from a distance, perhaps from a location that was itself deemed to be special. It is decorated with a terminal head and shoulders of human form in the round, and with faint incised embellishment (including eyebrows, hair lines and concentric circles). To unaided visual inspection, there is no surviving trace of paint or evidence of former attachments in metal or other material except for the drilled hole in the crown of the head. It seems likely, due to its similarity to other whetstones, that its primary provenance is Loveden Hill cemetery (seventh century), but its findspot, and wear on its surface suggests a secondary usage as a percussive or grinding tool. This takes the form of abrasion on the top and back of the head and the upper parts of its sides, and smoothing from soft handling that is most evident on the edges of the bar. It seems that if its original location was the Loveden Hill cemetery then its owner would have been of local high status. {5}