The army’s warpaint?

At the Hjortspring Mose site a handful of small turned wooden containers were also found – so-called pyxides. These are very early examples of turned wooden objects in Scandinavia. Similar small containers have been found, but made of pottery, in Greece, Germany and on the island of Bornholm. From the Greek, Etruscan and Roman world we also know of turned pyxides of wood. Perhaps the pyxides from Hjortspring were imported? We can only guess what they were used for. Perhaps they contained kindling material. Other ideas for their use have been proposed. One is that they contained a kind of make-up or warpaint for the warriors aboard the boat.