Object: Dagger
Period: Bronze Age
Collection: Warwick County Museum,Bloxam Collection No. 54,Previously in collection of late M. H. Bloxam of Rugby and then Rugby School Museum.
Site: Couny: Warwickshire,Town or parish: Oldbury, nr. Atherstone,Barrow MR 132/317944,The find comes from the excavation of the barrow by M. H. Bloxam and Mr. Hawkes "of the Eagle Foundry Birmingham" in 1835. The centre of the barrow, to within 18 ins. of surface at apex, was a cairn of stones. The barrow is still visible.
Discovery context: excavated,barrow
Parish: Atherstone
County: Warwickshire
Country: England
Year of discovery: NA
Length (mm): 86.36
Width (mm): 31.75
Thickness (mm): Rather less than 2mm.
Other: First remark appears to be in relation to "Mr. Hawkes",L & W in inches, originally length "3.4 in" and width "1.25 in",3 cross section drawings of dagger on reverse.,Appears likely a leaf-bladed dagger or otherwise wider and rounded at base with rivet hole and partway up blade.
Associations: At depth of 6-7 ft. 2 sepulchral urns deposited mouth downwards in cist of rough stones with 2 smaller 'vases' (perhaps a fragment survives in W.C. Mus.) and the dagger lay near them. Also flint chippings and mouth down over burnt bones with a 'drinking cup' (presumably food vessel in W.C. Mus.)
Description: Knife or dagger with point missing and probably much of left-hand side (on drawing) gone. One rivet (rectangular in section) corroded in place, projecting equally each side and both heads bent slightly towards heel. Rivet heads flat; do not appear to have been hammered out.
Publications: M. H. Bloxam Fragmenta Sepulchralia.. privately printed c. 1857, 22-4 + fig.,V.C.H. Warwickshire I, 220 (mentions only the pottery).
Remarks: ? Great Grandfather of CFCG? He was a Birmingham manufacturer,;Jocelyn M. Monus