Object: Sperhead
Period: Bronze Age
Collection: Clark, Mr. M - private,7 London Drive, Farnham Royal, Bucks,bought from Mr. Lambor, a Brighton dealer.,Formerly in the Society of Antiquaries Collection, London (apparently unnumbered) - U2,Presented 1860 by S. Roots, from the Collection of William Roots, no. 9.
Site: Greater London,River Thames,Kingston-upon-Thames,b) it is earlier and therefore more likely correct,"Found very near the same spot on Kingston Hill where the iron spears [no. 27] and middle hatched of bronze [no. 4] were taken up by the gravel diggers" (a),"Bronze spearhead found May 1844 in the bed of the Thames at Kingston, 15 ft below the bed of the river, and lodged in the blue clay, at the same spot where other weapons (supposed Roman) have been found. Dr. Roots. F.S.A. Surbiton." (b)
Discovery context: river
District: Kingston upon Thames
County: Greater London
Country: England
Grid reference: TQ 17 69
Year of discovery: 1844
Length (mm): 192
Width (mm): 25
Edge (mm): 43
Surface: Traces of dark brown surface - poss. original; much gold sur. - possibly due to rubbing/cleaning; odd traces of dull green. Darker brown band round socket - possibly from an old label.
Associations: 9 Undocumented
Description: Dimensions: L 191.5mm; Wbl 43; Wm 24.5; Bm 25; Ds 135,Typology: socket v. slightly elliptical,Manufacture: very slight suggestions of cg. fl. along socket sides; good edge bevel mainly,Condition: edges very sharp; part 'honed' down - probably largely modern interference,Attached Material: small patch light brown soil (?) on socket side.
Publications: a) P.S.A. 2 I (1859-61) 83 no. 9,b) Way, A. Mss. - Soc. of Antiquaries MS 700, Vol III
Remarks: Labels/Markings: typed label accompanied this and another spearhead whilst in Lambor's possession: "found Whitechurch, Salop, 1846 or 1856.",Archive: PIF,PRBAF: DF (C/S) (Soc. of Ant.); SI,Ext.: CI,Rec.: SN April 78,Source: Sb. A.,Old Cards: 1,Sub. Inf.: Clark - 13.4.78