Animal remains, jaw bone, motif piece

This cattle jaw has been used by a craftsman to practise certain designs. It was chosen because of its large, flat surface. The same design as been tried out several times, perhaps until the craftsman thought he had perfected it. Patterns like this have been found on Anglo-Saxon metalwork of the same period such as buckles and belt-fittings. Several motif pieces have been found on archaeological excavations in the northwest area of the City - was this a craftworkers' neighbourhood? The artists may have been trying out ideas, or the bones may have been patterns to show to clients or to guide an apprentice.