Discovered 1,000-year-old ink pen made of bone in Ireland

The pen is composed of a bone tube and a metal nib that acts like an ink pen, suitable for drawing fine lines.

Archaeologist Michelle Comber at the National University of Ireland, Galway, unearthed a 1,000-year-old writing tool in the round fortress of Caherconnell, Ireland, the Mail on December 11 reported. This 43m-wide fortress was built in the late 10th century and was inhabited by the rich and local rulers until the early 1600s.

The ancient ink pen consisted of a hollow bone tube and a copper alloy nib.

Many other artefacts discovered at Caherconnell show that the fort's owners pursued diverse activities, from crafting and metalworking to business, games and music.

Most of the examples of ancient writing in Ireland come from the Church of Ireland, where diligent scribes transcribed every religious text. However, Dr. Comber believes the owner of the pen in Caherconnel used it to write about more mundane things like genealogy and business.

She also believes that this writing tool is the most complete and oldest composite pen (composite of many components and materials) ever discovered in the British Isles. It consists of a hollow bone tube and a copper alloy nib.

Perhaps the most curious thing about Caherconnell's pen, according to Comber, is its normal birth background rather than its religious background. "The Caherconnell Archaeological Project yielded a great harvest with many unexpected and interesting finds. However, this find exceeded all expectations, showing the unexpected growth of extra-religious writing in the region. Ireland in the 11th century," she said.

To confirm the Caherconnell pen was indeed the writing tool, Comber teamed up with archaeologist Adam Parsons to make a replica. When they tested the modern copy, they found it worked like a pen. This is a type of pen that does not have a typical ink tank like today's fountain pens, but needs to be regularly dipped into the bottle to replenish ink. This sets the Caherconnell pen apart because in the 11th century feather pens were the more common writing instrument.

The design of the Caherconnell pen is perfect for fine work, even for fine lines, says Tim O'Neill, historian and calligrapher. "It would be very suitable for drawing lines, for example creating a border for a page," says O'Neill.