dejp3/bronze-age-objects-pas huggingface dataset:
Object: Vessel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to IRON AGE (-1150 to -300)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Grittleton, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 21.8 mm
Thickness: 4.7 mm
Weight: 14 g
Description: 
Curved cast bronze fragment, possibly a strap handle from a later prehistoric cauldron or metal vessel. The strap fragment has a little of the attachment plate surviving before two wide and rounded ribs. The strap is curved and would have secured the circular ring handle.



Similar fittings can be found on the Llyn Fawr cauldrons and other sheet metal vessels from the Later Prehistoric period.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Brailes, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 29.8 mm
Thickness: 3.1 mm
Weight: 3.03 g
Description: The object is possibly the tip of a spear head. It is made from cast copper alloy, and is a sub-triangular shape in plan. The tip is blunt, the lower edge is broken, but not recently. In section the object is a pointed oval shape. 


   
   The dimensions are 29.8mm long, 10.1mm wide and 3.1mm thick.


   
   The surface is heavily pitted, and has traces of a heavy dark brown patina. It is this patina and pitting which perhaps suggests its prehistoric date.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Ingot (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1200 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Darenth, Dartford, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 52.12 mm
Thickness: 30.34 mm
Description: Fragment of cast copper or copper alloy cake.  The ingot is irregularly shaped, measuring 52.12mm by 40.39mm by 30.34mm.  It is probably a product of late Bronze Age metalworking.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1400 to -1100)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Weston under Penyard, County of Herefordshire, County of Herefordshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 40.4 mm
Diameter: 8 mm
Weight: 13.4 g
Description: Bronze Age copper alloy spearhead fragment of side-looped type, dating to the Taunton-Penard metalworking phases (c.1400-1100 BC) of the Middle Bronze Age. The spearhead is broken at both ends and would have been short with a flame- or leaf-shaped blade. The circular socket becomes lozenge-shaped as it defines the central rib of the blade. The remnants of both loops are present at the base of the fragment and appear slight with a circular section.
Notes: This spearhead as been published by Davis (2012, 106, No.650) and falls within his Group 6 Unclassified (Developed side-looped). Davis notes almost 500 Group 6 spearheads from across Britain dating to the Middle Bronze Age, which have a broad distribution. Davis' spearhead sub-types 6A, 6B and 6C are particularly prevalent across Wales, all of which have 'flame-shaped' blades, which might strengthen the idea that this spearhead originally had a flame-shaped blade, rather than a leaf-shaped blade. The spearhead can be paralleled with a number of similar examples in National Museum & Galleries of Wales' collections (Savory 1980, Nos. 227-230).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Woolaston, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 26 mm
Thickness: 11.4 mm
Weight: 34.5 g
Description: 
Blade end fragment from a Late Bronze Age socketed axe of indeterminate type. The fragment has little of the original external surface surviving and the blade edge has been lost. The axe would have been comparatively slender with the sides gently diverging at the blade ends. The blade edge was likely to have been curved. No cast ornament is discernible on the faces.



The break has occurred just above the internal socket aperture, revealing the varying thickness of the socket walls, indicating there was core misalignment during casting, which is a common feature of socketed axes.

Notes: 
Breakage of socketed axes above the socket aperture can be observed on numerous other examples from Wales and England, found in both hoards and as single finds. Many fragments such as this display signs of having been deliberately fragmented and it is possible this piece represents the same practice.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2150 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Goldsborough, Harrogate, North Yorkshire (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 73.13 mm
Thickness: 10.24 mm
Weight: 76.65 g
Description: Copper alloy early Bronze Age flat Axehead, 2200-1500 BC. The axehead has a thin narrow rounded butt. The body is thickened at the middle and thins again to a splayed blade and cutting edge. The axehead weights 76.65g and measures 73.13mm in length from butt to cutting edge. At the thickest point across the body of the axehead, it measures 10.24mm and the measurment across the blade is 21.6mm. The surface of the axehead is pitted on both sides.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Dirk (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Thorner, Leeds, Leeds (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 76.22 mm
Thickness: 3.9 mm
Weight: 29.81 g
Description: Fragment (butt end) of a Dirk or Rapier probably dating to the middle Bronze Age. The blade of the Dirk has a pointed oval cross section and a raised central rib. The blade edges appear to have suffered some corrosion as does the butt. The butt is quite rounded due to corrosion but would probably have been trapezoidal in shape and shows the remains of two rivet holes on the left and right side. The object weights 29.81g; the length measurement is 76.22mm; width across butt is 31.05mm; thickness of remaining blade is 3.9mm.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Awl (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 51.5 mm
Description: Copper alloy ?incomplete awl, possibly Bronze Age.
It is 51.5mm in length and square in section (5x5mm) up to the point. The broken end is pitted and seems to taper slightly, ?wear. A few tiny traces of dark shiny green patina survive.
This may be a complete awl, or it may have tapered to a flat hafting end.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Found: Wellington, County of Herefordshire, County of Herefordshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 26 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight: 46.24 g
Description: A fragment of a late Bronze Age cast bronze socketed axe consisting of the cutting edge and lower blade. It is sub-rectangular in plan with a slightly curved blade. The sides, adjacent to the cutting edge, taper inwards towards the break. In section the fragment is sub-triangular. The fragment measures 51mm width, 26mm length, and is 11mm thick. It weighs 46.24 grams. 


      The cutting edge of the axe fragment, although corroded and slightly abraded by the soil, is worn and shows areas of possible sharpening and hammering. The break at the top is old. It is also corroded and abraded, however, a shallow partial elipsical / sub-oval hollow is visible. This is probably the base of the socket. The patination on the majority of this axe fragment is a mid-green colour. However, there are a number of patches of light green powdery (active) corrosion present.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1300)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Monmouthshire (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 153 mm
Thickness: 31.8 mm
Weight: 464.2 g
Description: Unlooped Early Palstave of Group II, probably an example of the Early Midribbed palstaves of Type Coed Llan and belonging to the later Acton Park metalworking stage of the Middle Bronze Age. Needham (1996) grouped Acton 2 metalwork with Taunton and Penard as his Period 5 (c. 1500-1150BC), It could be suggested that this example falls in the earlier section of this date range.

The palstave is complete, but has lost much of the original surface, particularly on one face. The butt is straight and meets the sides at a right-angle. The sides are parallel as far as the stop, and then gently diverge and turn out sharply at the blade tips. The flanges are curved and define a pointed oval with the blade sides. Both sides exhibit the remnants of prominent broad casting flashes and one of the flanges has a prominent casting flaw. The blade edge is deeply curved. The septum is slightly rounded, and unusually, the stop is different on each face. The face with more of the surface surviving has a straight stop, which meets the flange facets in a right-angle, while the other face has a rounded U-shaped stop. The better preserved face has the suggestion of a very slight poorly defined mid-rib. The blade faces are flat with no working up at the sides, but have a slight depression before the blade facet. The blade is notably asymmetrical, with one blade tip positioned further back than the other. It is possible this may be the result of differential wear on the blade through use.
Notes: This example can be best paralleled with numbers 795-6 (pp 127, plate 58) in Scmidt & Burgess' catalogue (1981).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Brailes, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 48.5 mm
Weight: 11.17 g
Description: The spear is made of cast copper alloy. The length, from the tip to the base is 48.5mm, and the width across the widest portion of the blades is 13mm. 


          
     In plan the spear is sub-triangular. It terminates with a damaged blunt point. The tip has a square section. The damage is not too recent. 


      
     The blades are slightly convex, but the edges are abraded. In section the blades taper towards the edge. In the centre of the spear, on both faces there is a vertical ridge which has a convex surface. This forms the socket of the spear. On one surface from the base a portion of this ridge is broken away, revealing the socket. 


     
     The lower edge is more circular in section, and again is broken, but not recently.


     
     The spear has a mid brown coloured patina with occassional pitting.


      
 Phil Watson suggests the spearhead is of Middle Bronze Age date. This is perhaps indicated by the lozenge shaped section which are more typical of basal and side looped spearheads than of Late Bronze Age pegged spearheads.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1450 to -600)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Grittleton, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 54.1 mm
Thickness: 9.8 mm
Weight: 20.1 g
Description: Bronze Age socketed spearhead tip fragment, of uncertain type and of Middle to Late Bronze Age date (c. 1450 – 600BC). The spearhead has broken at the bottom of the socket, with the last 1.5mm evident near the side of the fragment. The spearhead is likely to have been comparatively slender and has pronounced ribs continuing to the tip, giving the spearhead a chevron section. The blade edge on both sides has been largely lost, but appears relatively straight.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Found: Watford Rural, Three Rivers, Hertfordshire (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 50.4 mm
Thickness: 16.4 mm
Description: Fragment of a socketed axe of late Bronze Age date. It consists of the blade and part of the main body of the implement. Measures 50.4mm long by 53.6mm wide and up to 16.4mm thick. Weight not recorded. Has a dark green patina and the surfaces are pitted.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Soulbury, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 48 mm
Thickness: 7.7 mm
Description: Fragment of cast copper-alloy socketed spear head of probable middle Bronze Age date. Fragment comprises the latter 48mm of the spear including the tip. There is a wide central rib and the piece is hollow inside. It has a mid green patina and shows some signs of corrosion. The piece was broken in two during lifting. It measures up to 22.7mm wide and up to 7.7mm thick. The weight was not recorded.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Tregoney, Cornwall, Cornwall (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 62.7 mm
Thickness: 8.6 mm
Weight: 38.77 g
Description: Copper alloy fragment of a sword blade with mainly the central rib remaining and half the blade on either side of the rib worn away. One end is tapered which suggests that this is a fragment from the tip end of the sword blade. The blade is lozenge-shaped in section with a substantial rib which suggests it is likely to date from the Ewart Park phase (c.1000-800 BC).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1300 to -800)
Found: St. Columb Major, Cornwall, Cornwall (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 42.1 mm
Thickness: 11.9 mm
Weight: 84 g
Description: Axe blade from a Late Bronze Age socketed axe, with a slightly flanged blade tip (49.6 mm wide and 5 mm thick) and tapering sides of the blade as they move towards the broken edge (33.7 mm wide and 11.9 mm thick). Within the broken edge at the top of the blade, there is the remains of a sub-rectangular socket, which is at most about 8 mm in depth and is 22 mm long and 6 mm wide. 

   
   There are two distinctive gashes, probably from a plough, one on each face of the blade, which cut through the surface patina, exposing the underneath to bronze disease.

   
   Without having the butt end or the upper body of the axe with evidence of a side-loop, the axe cannot be typed or dated to a particular chronological assemblage or phase with the late Bronze Age.
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Found: , , Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 30 mm
Description: Fragment of a late Bronze Age socketed axe. Only the lower blade is intact and is 30mm long and 28mm wide at the break which expands to 40mm at the slightly expanded blade. The blade edge is missing. The surfaces show signs of wear and much of the surface patination is missing.  
 

  
  Recorded at the Hidden Treasures roadshow in Market Harborough.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Halberd (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2400 to -2000)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Hundleton, Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire (Wales)
Discovery method: Unknown
Length: 284 mm
Thickness: 7.5 mm
Weight: 361.5 g
Description: 
This is a symmetrical slender halberd blade of cast copper or bronze. Down the centre of the blade is a straight midrib. This is wide and angular in cross-section, at the top end tapering with a straight line into the haft-plate. The blade edges have been entirely removed, thus also removing any traces of bevelling originally along the edge. Whilst much of this damage is due to erosion of fragile edges, it is possible that some edges were notched through use wear or mutilation prior to burial. The erosion seems particularly deep and severe, with concave eroded depressions side by side, creating a 'nibbled' effect in places along the blade edge, almost as if notches were later prone to differentially high erosion. The blade end is blunt. The haft-plate is also heavily eroded, though is angular rather than rounded in shape. The halberd reveals evidence of four rivet holes, positioned as two lateral pairs on the haft-plate (rather than being arranged in an arc along it). The lower two are complete, whilst the upper two are visible only as partial grooves along the line of the eroded hilt-plate edges. The whole blade has been bent, as viewed in side section, probably in antiquity, there being no evidence of modern impact. The blade remains sturdy, yet is pitted across its surfaces. The overall patination is green, yet the eroded pits have a light green patina.

Notes: Halberds have recently been reassessed by Needham (2015) and a new typology presented for the British series. This halberd was published within Needham's paper (Cat.No.20) and falls within Type Pistill Dewy, which is characterised by four rivets in a trapezoidal formation following the hilt (Needham 2015, Appendix S1, p.23). Only four or five examples are currently known from Britain and this style may be linked with French influence.
Subsequent action: Acquired by a museum - not a Treasure case
Object: Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Found: Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, Shropshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 38.2 mm
Thickness: 15.7 mm
Weight: 81.34 g
Description: A fragment of a bronze axehead. Only the blade portion of the axe remains. The terminal opposite the blade is a broken edge, however, this break is not recent. The axe measures from the blade edge to the broken edge 38.2mm long, and is 38.1mm wide across the blade edge. At the break the axe is 15.7mm thick. 


   
   The side corners of the bladed edge taper outwards very slightly. The edge of the blade is asymmetrical. However the axe has lost its original surface, only a small trace of a heavy patina remains on one face. This patch of patina is a dark brown/green colour. Otherwise the surface is pitted and rough.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Chisel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Horringer, St. Edmundsbury, Suffolk (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 57 mm
Description: Late Bronze Age Socketed chisel, double moulding at socketed end, large hole in body (damage) flaring to cutting edge, 22 x 57mm.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Rhondda Cynon Taf (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 96.7 mm
Weight: 161.6 g
Description: 
Three ribbed South Wales Type socketed axe of cast bronze. One upper face and most of the mouth top has broken away, whilst the loop is broken. This medium sized axe is slender in form, with slightly divergent sides, widening near the blade end to form an expanded blade with slight recurving at the edges. The casting seams down each side of the axe remain prominent, though seem to have been blunted and rounded, possibly through hammering. The axe has a rectangular cross section, though the face edges are slightly curved. Three well-defined longitudinal ribs extend from the underside of a prominent outsplayed mouth moulding, converging slightly towards the blade end. The blade edge has entirely corroded away, although hammer marks and striations on the blade bevel, parallel to the blade edge, indicate that the axe blade was prepared and sharpened for use. The axe has minor casting blemishes upon the inner socket surfaces and on one outer face, though not serious enough to affect it functioning as an axe, whilst the socket base is flat and deep. The mouth, break edges and blade edge are severely corroded, light green and powdery. When reported for identification there were a number of additional corroded small fragments, which had detached themselves from the axe. Most of the axe surfaces are original and have a good dark-brown to black patina.

Notes: 
Inside the socket of the axe were found well mineralised plant fragments, possibly grass stems, which were removed for study. These may have been within the socket when it was deposited within the ground.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1950 to -1750)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Overton, Wrexham, Wrexham (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 132.1 mm
Thickness: 14.9 mm
Weight: 319.3 g
Description: This is a large developed flat axe of bronze dating to the Early Bronze Age. The butt is modestly rounded, though with angular corners. The sides are straight, but slightly divergent for just under three quarters of the length of the axe, curving out suddenly just above the blade to a widely expanded and deeply crescentic cutting edge. All of the original blade edges have been removed by erosion, thereby preventing accurate calculation of the original width and recurve of the blade edge. Approximately 57mm from the butt end is a straight stop-ridge across the axe. The margins of the septum are defined by shallow flanges, which appear to have been hammered up, rather than being cast. The axe sides are faceted: each has an angled mid-ridge, each facet being covered with hammer marks. These tend to be aligned at a consistent diagonal angle across both facets, with no apparent pattern. Nevertheless, they provide some decorative quality to the axe sides. On one upper septum face, there are feint linear dashes or scratches running longitudinally, possibly decorative rain-drop decoration, now barely visible. On each upper blade margin there is a distinct, shallow, hammered crescentic groove, defining the edge of the blade bevel. Striations are visible on each blade bevel, indicating that the blade was prepared and sharpened. Original surfaces survive over most of the axe and these have dark brown patination. However, original surfaces have been lost on the butt, down one lower side, in patches over one blade bevel and around the blade edge. Here, the bronze has a light green patina.
Notes: This axe can be classed as Type Bandon (following Schmidt and Burgess 1981) or a probable Class 4 (follow Needham 1983; forthcoming), dating to Periods 3-4 of the Early Bronze Age (c.1950-1500 BC) (Needham 1996). Class 4 axes straddle the boundary between Periods 2 and 3, but this axe can be confidently assigned to Period 3, probably falling within the late Aylesford to Willerby metalworking phases (c.1950-1750 BC) (Needham et al. 1997). At the time of writing (Aug 2017) 27 Class 4 axes dating to this period are currently known from across Wales, the vast majority being single finds.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -700)
Found: , West Dorset, Dorset (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 49.54 mm
Description: Fragment of a cast copper alloy axe blade of Middle to Late Bronze Age date. It is not possible to establish whether it is from a palstave or a socketed axe because there only 20mm remains of the length.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Gouge (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-950 to -750)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Cowbridge with Llanblethian, the Vale of Glamorgan, the Vale of Glamorgan (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 75.2 mm
Diameter: 17.5 mm
Weight: 45.6 g
Description: Late Bronze Age socketed gouge, probably of Ewart Park (c. 950 - 750 BC) metalworking tradition. The gouge is of circular mouth section and has a low-raised collar, which is very slightly concave and is 10mm deep from the mouth. The casting seams are prominent on both sides and are likely to have been finished by hammering. The sides are straight and diverge slightly at the blade. Sharpening striations are visible on both of the blade faces. The striations are angled across the blade, towards the sides on the front (gouged) face, and are positioned along the blade circumference on the (circular) back face. Inside the socket at the mouth are two incised or possibly cast lines; one on the rim and the other 2.5mm into the socket. The gouge is in good condition, with only a little damage to the blade edge, and has a dark brown patina.
Notes: David Coombs (1971, 251ff.; 2001, 288) presented a four category typology based on the shape and style of socketed gouges in south east England. This gouge might be most accurately placed within his Class IIa category, which is characterised by a deep collar and narrow blade. Classes of gouges are difficult to distinguish chronologically, but can be broadly dated to the Late Bronze Age, particularly the Wilburton-Ewart Park metalworking phases (c.1150-750 BC), though different forms continue in use into the Early Iron Age. Needham et al's (1997) recent study of Bronze Age chronology dated a similar collared socketed gouge from the Bodwrog Hoard, Anglesey to 2720 +- 45 BP (DoB No 3, OxA-4652, p68).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1350 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Briston, North Norfolk, Norfolk (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 139 mm
Thickness: 30.6 mm
Weight: 347 g
Description: Middle Bronze Age Transitional palstave of Type Shelf, (midribbed variant), dating to the end of the Middle Bronze Age. The palstave is of the Penard metalworking tradition, falling into the later part of Needham's (1996) Period 5 (c. 1500 - 1150BC). Characteristically for the type, the palstave is slender with a narrow blade, low-flanges and was looped (now broken). The butt is slightly angled and is irregular, possibly through damage. The septum is concave and the stop is straight with right angles to the flanges. The sides are straight and parallel above the stop and the flanges are rounded, forming an elipse with the blade faces. Uncharacteristically for the type, the flanges reach their apex before the stop; this variation in the flange line may be seen as an influence of later (Irish) or earlier (primary / low-flanged) palstaves. The blade sides are subtly curved and gradually diverge to an unexpanded edge, resulting in weak blade corners. The blade edge is only slightly rounded. The blade faces are convex near the stop and are decorated with a weak midrib or ridge. There is no discernible blade facet. The casting seams are visible on the sides, and have been neatly finished.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1300 to -1000)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Llandybie, Carmarthenshire, Carmarthenshire (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 131 mm
Thickness: 26.8 mm
Weight: 177.5 g
Description: 
Single-looped, narrow-bladed and slender palstave of cast bronze. Part of the butt-end of the palstave is missing, whilst the loop has broken off in antiquity. This narrow palstave form exhibits waisting below the stop, the upper sides above the stop being very slightly convex. The sides below the stop are slightly concave and curve outwards into a moderately expanding, but narrow cutting edge. The cutting edge is now blunted, but moderately crescentic in plan. A prominent midrib or mid-ridge descends from the stop on each face, whilst the face edges are rounded. This gives the palstave a lozenge shaped cross-section immediately beneath the stop. The flanges of the palstave are heavily eroded near to the stop, therefore obscuring the characteristic side view of this axe form, which appears as an elongated lozenge. In side view, the stop curves outward gradually, rather than as an angular overhang. Most of the original surfaces of the palstave are lost, with local original surface patches above the stop on each side and on one upper face. The palstave is thus heavily eroded, with extensive pitting visible along the lower blade end. The palstave has a dark green to brown patination.

Notes: Transitional palstaves may be dated to the Middle-Late Bronze Age, specifically the Penard-Wilburton metalworking phases (c.1300-1000 BC) (Schmidt and Burgess 1981). This palstave may be classed within Schmidt and Burgess' (1981, 149-151) Type Roundhay, midribbed variant.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Sapcote, Blaby, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 129 mm
Diameter: 16 mm
Description: Bronze age copper alloy side looped socketed spearhead, 129mm long and 20mm wide. The object consists of a conical socket which is 16mm in diameter, and has two intact side loops, 10mm long. The spearhead is 60mm long, it is missing its tip and is slightly bent (discarded after it was damaged?) it also has damage to its edges. The object has a brown patina with rust coloured patches and has some corrosion.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Awl (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Stapleford, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 41.5 mm
Thickness: 5.5 mm
Weight: 7.57 g
Description: Bronze Age awl, 41.5mm in length and almost square in section at the centre (5x5.5mm).
From the centre, all four side of the awl narrow to one end, which is also square in section (2x2mm), but rounded. The tip appears to have been broken (oldish break, but not worn). 
In the opposite direction, two opposing sides also narrow while the other two opposing sides flatten. At a point c.4mm from the end, the flattening sides 'drop' while the narrowing sides narrow steeply, meeting at the end still 5.5mm wide but at a point c.0.2mm thick.
Weighs 7.57g
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Found: Betchworth, Mole Valley, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 37.5 mm
Weight: 19.36 g
Description: Fragment from the mouth and haft end of a Late Bronze Age socketed axe of South-Eastern type. There is a double mouth moulding and the face has two opposing curving 'hour glass' mouldings. On the interior is a prominent casting rib.
Notes: The moulded crescents are common on socketed axes and are thought to relate to contemporary winged axes.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1600 to -1100)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Dymock, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 55.6 mm
Diameter: 16 mm
Weight: 21.3 g
Description: Socket fragment from a Middle Bronze Age side-looped spearhead, possibly falling with the Taunton-Penard metalworking phases (c.1400-1100 BC). The spearhead is represented by the socket only and none of the blade survives, making a typological classification difficult. The socket tapers gradually to the break. The two side loops (c. 19. x 6 mm) are low and flat with a roughly lozenge-shaped plate. Casting seams are clear on both sides below the loops, and have been neatly finished by filing. The striations from the filing survive around the loops. The base of the spearhead is slightly thinner, with a gentle step 5mm from the base. The casting seams have been removed before the step. The surface of the fragment has survived well with a dark brown patina.
Notes: The low, flat nature of the side loops indicate this was probably part of Davis' (2012) Group 6 (developed side-looped spearhead), which dates to the Taunton-Penard phases as defined by Needham et al. (1997). However, similar side loops can be observed on earlier spearheads dating to the preceding Acton Park 2 phase (c.1600-1400 BC), which are defined instead by the blade shape so exact dating is not possible.



This spearhead socket was not recorded by Davis (2012).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Dirk (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2200 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , , Essex (Eastern)
Discovery method: Unknown
Length: 27.28 mm
Thickness: 6.42 mm
Weight: 7.41 g
Description: Possible fragment of a Bronze Age weapon, possibly a dirk. This fragment is subtriangular in plan and oval in section. It is 27.28mm long, 15.58mm wide, 6.42mm thick and weighs 7.41g. It appears that this fragment could  represent part of the rib of the weapon, from which the wings of the blade flare out to either side. This object is heavily abraded and damaged with a mid green patina.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flanged Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2000 to -1700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lubenham, Harborough, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 102 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Description: Bronze Age flanged axe head, 102mm in length, 50mm wide and 13mm thick. The object is quite corroded with patches of surface missing and a pitted surface. The axe has a rounded end with flanged sides. The axe becomes thicker towards the middle of its length, before narrowing and spalying out to form the blade whic is quite curved.
Notes: Very old record-Dec 03
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Vessel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to IRON AGE (-1100 to -800)
Found: Compton Abbas, North Dorset, Dorset (South West)
Discovery method: Chance find during metal detecting
Thickness: 9.38 mm
Weight: 6.47 g
Description: One small pottery body sherd, possibly from a collared urn. Hand-made and thick-walled. Largely black, reduced fabric with an oxidised brownish layer on the external surface. The fabric is tempered with fine sand with some larger pieces of grog, flint and other stone (up to 3mm). The exterior surface retains a band of vertical thumb impressed decoration (4 impressions on this small sherd). Very little abrasion.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Mount (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to ROMAN (-300 to 200)
Material: Copper alloy Enamel
Found: Tewkesbury, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 25 mm
Thickness: 2.5 mm
Weight: 7.79 g
Description: Late iron age or Roman?? copper alloy and enamel rectangular mount, 25mm long and 19mm wide. The object is 2.5 mm thick and has no obvious fixing points, but it does have an area of iron staining in the centre of its upper surface. It is decorated with a raised line which forms a single loop which is shaped like two crescents flanking a 'diamond' area. There are traces of eneamel, now red in between.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Bolam, County Durham, County Durham (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 125 mm
Description: A copper alloy probable axehead, dating to the Bronze Age. The object is triangular and slightly wedge shaped in section. The edges of the axehead are rounded. The object measures 125mm in length and has a width of between 21mm and 45mm. The surface of the axe is pitted and severely corroded.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -2000)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Northchapel, Chichester, West Sussex (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 100 mm
Weight: 155 g
Description: An Early Bronze Age flat axe. The axe is in poor condition with active corrosion and with only a small area of its original surface surviving. There are no traces of either decoration or of sharpening striations. The original extent of the blade is unclear. At one point the underlying metal has been exposed in a recent gouge and this appears as a copper colour.
Notes: Flat axes are important finds and the findspot of this example, in the northwestern fringes of the Weald, shows exploitation of this area at an early date.
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Found: South Elmsall, Wakefield, Wakefield (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 30.55 mm
Weight: 38.08 g
Description: Fragment of a late Bronze age socketed axehead, of the Ewart Park tradition and dating to c.1000-800 BC.  The object is the blade end of a looped and socketed axehead. Both blade tips, the cutting edge and a small portion of the sides and faces of the axehead are present.  It is possible that the axehead has been deliberatly broken or 'ritually killed'. It weighs 38.08g and measures 46.91mm in width and 30.55mm in length.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Chisel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Nether Wallop, Test Valley, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 32.3 mm
Thickness: 6.9 mm
Weight: 5.46 g
Description: Copper alloy object, possibly a Late Bronze Age chisel.  The object is solid and is broken off at one end where it is rectangular 	in section.  From this break there is a short length of the rectangular sectioned shaft surviving (L. c. 3mm.  W. 5.4mm.  Th. 4.3mm) before the object expands sharply to a larger rectangular shoulder.  From here the object tapers before expanding and becoming thinner terminating in a slightly flared, slightly convex blade  (L. 29.3mm.  W. 10.1-4.9-12.9mm.  Th. 6.9-4.3-0.6mm
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Witton Gilbert, County Durham, County Durham (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 92 mm
Thickness: 5 mm
Description: A copper alloy flat axehead dating to the Bronze Age. The axehead is wedge shaped with a rounded cutting edge which has worn irregularly. The surface of the axehead is pitted. It measures 92mm in length and has a maximum width of 33mm. it has a maximum thickness of 5mm.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flanged Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Bishops Waltham, Winchester, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 94.2 mm
Thickness: 11.3 mm
Weight: 84.28 g
Description: Copper-(?alloy) flanged axe of probable early Bronze Age date. The object is long and narrow, measuring 94.2mm long, by 13.8mm wide at the attachment end, and widening gradually to a maximum width of 25.9mm at the blade. The maximum thickness is towards the middle, where it is 11.3mm. From here it tapers gradually towards the blade. The flanges of the axe are 41.2mm long and only 2.5mm deep. There is a smooth break between the flanges and the main body of the axe. There is no stop ridge. There is slight damage to the blade and the object is heavily corroded. Weight = 84.28g.
Notes: Object underwent conservation at Verulamium museum.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Dirk (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1600 to -1300)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Kendal, South Lakeland, Cumbria (North West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 178.5 mm
Thickness: 4 mm
Description: Copper alloy middle Bronze Age rapier or dirk. The mid section of the blade is slighly convex with no medial ridge. The tip survives, and the edges are in remarkably good condition and are still sharp. The blade tapers out to the shaft which is oval, with two circular holes at the top, one of which has been broken in antiquity. The top of the shaft is slightly hexagonal in shape. The dirk has a greeny/brown patina, and the surface which survives, has a light etching to it. Dating to an early date within the middle bronze age, part of the Acton assemblage or possibly the Taunton phase, circa 1600 - 1400/1300 BC.


Burgess & Gerloff's (1981)Group IV weapons with group II affinities.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Naseby, Daventry, Northamptonshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Thickness: 9 mm
Description: Copper alloy Bronze age axe tip, 50mm long 20m wide and 9mm at thickest point.  The axe tip has a break which echoes its cutting edge  (Which suggest accidental damage???)  The axe is in good condition, although it has lost parts of its original surface, which has a brown patina.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Haslingfield, South Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 16.74 mm
Thickness: 13.33 mm
Weight: 52.05 g
Description: A fragment of a late Bronze Age socketed axehead dated from 1000-800 BC. The lower portion of the axe shows signs of been re-sharpened on one edge, and re-used in antiquity. This may of given rise to the inbalance and curved nature of the cutting edge.  Cutting edge very fine and sharp.
      
Width across cutting edge: 47.38 mm. Length from broken edge to cutting edge: 33.72. Thickness across broken edges 13.33 mm, 10.87 mm. Width across fractured edge: 30.73.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Found: Sheinton, Shropshire, Shropshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 35 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight: 70.25 g
Description: A fragment of cast bronze axe. The fragment consists of the cutting edge and lower blade of a mid to late Bronze Age axe (1500 - 800 BC). The fragment is sub-rectangular in plan with a slight curved convex cutting edge. The sides, adjacent to the cutting edge, taper inwards towards the break. In section the fragment is sub-triangular. The fragment measures 48.3mm width, 35mm length, and is 12mm thick. It weighs 70.25 grams. 


   
   The convex cutting edge of the axe fragment, although corroded and slightly abraded by the soil, is worn and shows areas of possible sharpening. The break at the top is old. It has also suffered from corrosion, however, there are a number of large sub-oval and circular holes or pits in the metal. The majority of these may have been formed through corossion, but the largest is probably an air-pocket in the metal formed when the axe was cast. This would have weakened the blade of the axe at this point and probably contributed to it breaking here. It is a dark mid-green brown colour with an even patina. However, there are a number of patches of light green powdery (active) corrosion present.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Ring (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to IRON AGE ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Clyffe Pypard, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Diameter: 25 mm
Description: Copper alloy ring with a smooth, shiny, browny-grey patina. The inside edge curves outwards to meet the outside edge, which is ridged. These ridges stand 2.5-3mm high, and 1mm prominent from the ring. They appear to be closely spaced and thin, becoming wider and more spaced out around the ring.
There is a clean break across the ring, and leaving a 1mm wide gap. However, this seems to have been 'filled in' on the outer edge, whether by corrosion or human intervention.
The internal diameter is 18m, external 25mm.
Possibly Iron Age or even Bronze Age in date, and possibly a finger-ring. Cf larger examples from the ? Hoard
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1200 to -701)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 24 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 12.53 g
Description: Fragment of a late Bronze Age socketed axehead, comprising mostly the face but also part of the side of the axe. The fragment consists of the mouth moulding, lip and part of the body with a rib decoration.
All breaks are old. Measures c.24x24x3mm. Weighs 12.53g
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 28 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 10.42 g
Description: Body fragment of Late Bronze Age socketed axehead, consisting of part of the side of the axe. It is slightly cuving and has a casting seam running its length. The casting seam has been finished.
28x18x3mm. Weighs 10.42g
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1200 to -701)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 33 mm
Thickness: 4 mm
Weight: 25.52 g
Description: Fragment of Late Bronze Age socketed axehead, consisting of part of the body, mouth moulding, and complete loop.
The mouth moulding is thicker at its centre. The loop measures 18x8mm (external) and 8x4mm (internal). The casting flash is visible on the mouth moulding above the loop but is rather worn -it does look unfinished though.
Measures 33x29x4mm. Weighs 25.52g
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1200 to -701)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 22.5 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 9.73 g
Description: Fragment of a late Bronze Age socketed axehead, comprising part of the body and upper and lower mouth moulding. The upper mouth moulding is wider than the lower.
The fragment is curving in profile. The metal is light brown in colour. It measures 22.5x20.5x3mm (the body is 1.5mm thick) and weighs 9.73g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1300 to -1100)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Ockley, Mole Valley, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 63.5 mm
Description: The lower part of a palstave axe of mid-late Bronze Age date, broken off below the stop. Very little of the original surface survives.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Metal Working Debris (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-900 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Reigate Central, Reigate and Banstead, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 29 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight: 36.02 g
Description: A conical lump of copper alloy, patinated green. The piece is slightly concave and may be a piece of casting waste, possibly the well at the top of the mould. On the rounded surface are possible traces of casting jets.
Notes: Probably Late Bronze Age in view of activity of this date in the area.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Found: Hanslope, Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 23 mm
Thickness: 5 mm
Weight: 9.9 g
Description: Fragment of a late Bronze Age socketed axe, made of bronze. It is 23 mm long and 23 mm wide. Only part of one side survives. There is a double mouth moulding and a prominent casting flash. The interior of the axe socket is smooth, the exterior is convex. The wall of the axe expands in thickness from 3 mm to 5 mm at the opening of the socket. The object dates from 1000 to 800 BC.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to UNKNOWN (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , , Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 140 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight: 319 g
Description: Bronze age side looped palstave, 140mm long,54mm wide, 29mm thick and weighing 319 grams. The object is complete except for the side loops have ben broken off. It has a green/brown patina and the surface is pitted. Unfortunatly it has been dipped in wax which obscures some of the decoration but it does appear to have a trident pattern underneath the rib.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , Cornwall, Cornwall (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 24.1 mm
Thickness: 6.8 mm
Weight: 19.52 g
Description: Copper alloy Ewart Park sword fragment. The central rib is remaining and half of the blade edge is worn away on either side. Pronounced edge bevels on both sides. The fragment is tapered in plan which suggests that this is a fragment approaching the tip end of the sword blade. The blade is lozenge-shaped in section with a substantial but broad rib which suggests it is likely to date from the Ewart Park phase of the late Bronze Age (c.1000-800 BC).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder