These molds were excavated by Reginald P. Bolton, William L. Calver, and others before or after the formation of the Field Exploration Committee in 1918, at the British camp on the Dyckman farm, between Seaman and Payson Avenues, and at 204th St. in Washington Heights. Bone buttons were used on parts of the uniform where regulation military buttons were not required. Soldiers would cut flat strips from bones, and form buttons in the strips using a cutting tool.