Hairpin/dress-pin

Burial from Veien - cremation grave from the Late Roman Iron Age
c.200 - 400CE

This is the best-preserved needle from the site, but it is partially damaged with a broken tip. It is over 16 cm long and has some prominent rings at the top. The length makes it resemble a modern knitting needle. The grave likely belongs to a woman.

Most of the jewelry finds from the burial site at Veien are clothing pins. This needle is no exception, but it may have had other uses. It could have been used to fasten a shawl, for example, but it could also have been used as a hairpin as part of a woman's hairstyle. 

If the pin was indeed used for styling hair, it may help us understand her identity. Female hairstyles and the use of accessories could express a woman's societal status, as is well-known in other cultures like ancient Rome. A woman's hairstyle could indicate her wealth, marital status, age, and so forth. Perhaps the hairpin found at Veien served a similar function?