Cypriot Bronze toggle pin: Early Cypriot III-Middle Cypriot II

Probably from North Cyprus in the Middle Bonze Age (or just possibly Early Cypriot III). They known from the Philia period onwards, and are believed to have been used to secure clothing. However their unnecessarily large size suggests a large element of prestige display. Such pins are thought to be represented on many plank figures. Other than daggers/ knives toggle pins were the most commonly found among the 18000 copper based objects found in 140 Lapithos tombs. They were also the object type containing the highest proportion of tin. Many of the other objects were predominantly alloyed with arsenic or a combination of tin and arsenic.

Ref: Charlambous & Webb 2020. Cf Swedish Cyprus Expedition P Dikaios & J Stewart 1962. Vol4 1a. p136