Object: Sword
Period: Bronze Age
Collection: Vale, Mr. E - private,26 Thorley Park Road, Bishop's Startford, Herts.,Landowner: Mr. Tinney, Matching Halls Farm,Site Rel. NBI/Or. 1
Site: Essex,Matching,Matching Hall Farm,Found July 1987 in ploughing; the field previous pasture, had been ploughed for the first time in 'years'; sword found caught up in cultivation, but finder was satisfied that it was turned up in a particular part of field which showed a blackened rectangular surface discoloration - c. 25 x 25 yds.
Discovery context: farm
Parish: Matching
County: Essex
Country: England
Grid reference: c. TL 5315 1190
Year of discovery: 1978
Length (mm): 613
Width (mm): W. ht. 24.2, Wsh. 58.5
Thickness (mm): Max T bl. 8.8
Surface: Mostly pale yellow - green dry surface; odd few pits to light green - probably damage rather than pocking, etc.; small areas dark brown smoother out - poss. relif patina.
Description: Dimensions: EL (straightened) 613; W ht. 24.2; Wsh. 58.5; Max B fg. 9.0; max T bl. 8.8; W ws. 31.7; max W. bl. 50.2,Typology: v. slight bowed fg. cross-section; 'slot' depressions around rivet holes; ricasso more-or-less flattened; hint of e. bev. below ricasso rapidly disappears; rounded loz. bl. section tending to lenticular towards tip; rivet holes markedly hour-glass,Manufacture: remains of thin cg. fl. within hilt slot; some likely porosity apparent on surface.,Condition: hilt terminal broken off in antiquity; remainder broken in two - fracture gold, [..[ recent, prob. due to find circumstances; whole length very twisted & contorted - prob. ancient, as are most of edge dents and 'tear' low on bl. c.; small gouging just below shoulders gold - recent; also odd gold flecks along edges & small even in one ricasso; very tip blunted - anc. (+ modern).,Attached Material: scattered orange staining - apparently on surface - possibly adhering dust.
Remarks: PIF (O); DF (S); SI; CI; SN 9 Oct. 78; Sb. A.; Mr. Vale, 8 Aug. 78