CONGRATULATIONS go to readers Gus Stewart, of Clapham, and Tony Phillips, of Barnoldswick, who correctly identify last week's Craven Curiosity.

It was a pair of caltrops - an anti-personnel military weapon consisting of sharp spikes, used to impede and slow down enemy troops and horses.

Gus says the modern equivalent is the police stinger, which is thrown across the road to puncture the tyres of vehicles being used to evade arrest.

Both men agree caltrops back to pre-Roman times.

Experts at Craven Museum and Gallery say this particular pair dates from the First World War.

"The first caltrop consists of two parts of twisted bent metal, which are welded together, while the second is a four-starred metal shape. They measure 70mm in height and both have slight rustiness to the metal.

"Caltrops are also known as ‘foot traps’ from to the Latin translation calcitrapa. They are still in modern usage today as tyre stingers."

All items featured in this column can be viewed at the museum, which is run by Craven District Council and is in Skipton Town Hall.

Meanwhile, we are inviting guesses about this week’s mystery object.

Suggestions can be emailed to news@cravenherald.co.uk, to arrive by noon on Monday.