dejp3/bronze-age-objects-pas huggingface dataset:
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Swinfen and Packington, Lichfield, Staffordshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 102.23 mm
Thickness: 11.97 mm
Weight: 153.12 g
Description: An incomplete Early Bronze Age cast copper alloy developed flat axe.  The axehead is 102.23 mm long, with a rounded butt and a body which expands in width towards the blade.  There is no butt stop or transverse bevel visible on the body of the axehead, although the original surface has been removed by corrosion.  The axehead has gentle flanges at the edges of the body, which are concave in profile and are cast or hammered.  In section, one flange is noticeably narrower than the other (the width being a maximum of 10.02mm compared to 11.97mm). It is unclear if this is a consequence of wear or corrosion, or whether this difference was generated in the manufacture of the axehead. The blade is heavily splayed and has a curved cutting edge with a maximum width of 42.41mm.  One end of the blade is worn or corroded away.  The axehead weighs 153.12 grams.  The heavily pitted surface of the axehead has a dark brown patina, and light green corrosion products are also visible on the surface. There is a small amount of recent damage on the more pronounced flanges. No decoration is visible on the axehead.  The low flanges and form of the axe suggest that this is a developed flat axe, within Needham's (1996) period 3 (2050-1700BC).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Blade (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lichfield, Lichfield, Staffordshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 30.9 mm
Thickness: 7.39 mm
Weight: 18.58 g
Description: A cast copper alloy fragment, probably from an edged blade of unknown type. The fragment is 30.90mm long, with a pronounced but narrow lozenge-section midrib. The blade wings are largely complete, although one wing is bent at the cutting edge.  The width of the fragment narrows from 34.87mm to 23.89mm  towards the tip which is missing.  There is no central cavity visible within the midrib, although the terminals of the midribs are partially obscured by soil. The fragment weighs 18.58g.

A lightly pitted dark brown patina is visible on a small area of one of the blade wings, but generally the fragment has a light to dark green surface colouring.  As previously mentioned, there is some obscuration of the surface by soil.

In cross-section the object is similar to known Bronze Age forms for edged blades, and particularly spear tips: a lozenge-section midrib with thin triangular wings on either side (see for example, the spearheads illustrated in Ehrenberg, 1977, figs 3ff ).  However, the majority of the object is missing, which would have the diagnostic features to enable more precise identification and dating.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1150 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Barby, Daventry, Northamptonshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 41 mm
Description: A fragment of a cast copper alloy axe. The blade portion of the axe remains with the broken edge traversing the axe and revealing the socket. The blade cutting edge is asymmetrical, rounded and blunt, and is convex in plan. The blade has slightly flared sides. The break is not recent as the patina on the break matches that on the surface of the axe. The surface of the axe is abraded, but has patches of a well developed dark green/brown patina. From the cutting edge to the broken edge it measures 41mm, and from the corner of the blade to the broken edge it measures 15.12mm.

The axe is a socketed axe dating to the late Bronze Age, c.1150 to 700 BC.
Notes: Recorded from images taken by the finder.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1450 to -1350)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: St. Kew, Cornwall, Cornwall (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 162 mm
Thickness: 40 mm
Weight: 525.15 g
Description: Cast copper alloy shield pattern palstave; Crediton type. Broken blade and butt ends with worn down flanges. The remains of a raised edge, in the form of a shield can be seen below the stop ridge. The surface is heavily pitted and has a dark green patina with light green corrosion.



L. 162mm; W. (blade) 52mm; W. (butt) 20 mm; Th. (flange) 40mm; Wt. 525.15g Dimensions (millimetres/grams) L: length Th: thickness W: width Wt: weight



The two shield-pattern palstaves are not identical with this palstave having a more pointed and longer shield, indicating that they were cast in different moulds. Nonetheless, they are both Crediton type dating from the Acton Park metalwork phase (c.1500-1400 BC) (Needham 1996; Needham et al. 1997) and have been found in Cornwall in hoards such as Perranzabuloe, Truro and Veryan (Pearce 1983, 577-581, plates 16, 18-20).
Notes: Previous Entry



Cast copper alloy shield-pattern palstave with broken blade and butt ends and a damaged left flange. There is a raised edge, in the form of a shield, from the stop ridge below onto the top of the blade. The right side of the palstave, from the butt end to the blade end, retains the raised casting seam, but the left side is more corroded and has been marked with an incision, parallel to the remains of the casting seam, running the length of the side of the flange. The shiny surface within this etched line suggests that it is more recent damage that the palstave has sustained. The casting seams are off-centre, like the other palstave found nearby, but the shield shape is longer and more pointed, suggesting that the palstaves were made in different moulds. The surface of the palstave is quite pitted and has many raised circular lumps, which suggests that it has been in a suitably wet or corrosive environment to develop such areas of bronze disease. The palstave is 162 mm in length, the blade end is 52 mm wide and 10 mm thick and the butt end is 20 mm wide and 8 mm thick. The flanged area is 40 mm thick. Crediton type Acton Park phase Middle Bronze Age c.1450-1350 BC Needham (1998) illustrates a similar example on page 128, Fig.29, No.95, which is labelled Acton metalwork. Pearce (1983) illustates similar examples from Truro, Veryan, and Cornwall on pages 579-581, Plates 18-20, Nos.144a, 147b & 165, which are all Crediton types.
Subsequent action: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1450 to -1350)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: St. Kew, Cornwall, Cornwall (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 156 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight: 450.3 g
Description: Cast copper alloy shield pattern palstave; Crediton type. Broken blade and butt ends with worn down flanges with one missing. The remains of a raised edge, in the form of a shield can be seen below the stop ridge. The surface is heavily pitted and has a dark green patina that is encrusted with light green corrosion.


L. 156mm; W. (blade) 51mm; W. (butt) 26 mm; Th. (flange) 33mm; Wt. 450.3g


This was found with another shield pattern palstave, but they are not identical with this palstave having a rounded and shorter shield indicating that they were cast in different moulds. Nonetheless, they are both Crediton Type dating from the Acton Park metalwork phase (c.1500-1400 BC) (Needham 1996; Needham et al. 1997) and have been found in Cornwall at hoards such as Perranzabuloe, Truro and Veryan (Pearce 1983, 577-581, plates 16, 18-20).
Notes: Previous entry:











Cast copper alloy shield-pattern palstave or axe head with broken blade and butt ends and and worn down side flanges, apart from the left flange on one side. The remains of the raised edge, in the form of a shield, can be seen from the stop ridge below onto the top of the blade. The left side of the palstave, from the butt end to the blade end, retains the raised casting seam, but the left side is more corroded and there is only a small section of the casting seam remaining, running half of the length of the side of the flange. The casting seam is off-centre, like the other palstave found nearby, but the shield shape is shorter and more rounded, suggesting that the palstaves were made in different moulds. The surface of the palstave is very pitted and has many raised circular lumps, which suggests that it has been in a suitably wet or corrosive environment to develop such areas of bronze disease. The palstave is 156 mm in length, the blade end is 51 mm wide and 6 mm thick and the butt end is 26 mm wide and 9 mm thick. The flanged area is 33 mm thick. Crediton type Acton Park phase Middle Bronze Age c.1450-1350 BC Needham (1998) illustrates a similar example on page 128, Fig.29, No.94, which is labelled Acton metalwork. Pearce (1983) illustates similar examples from Perranzabuloe, Truro, Veryan, and Cornwall on pages 577-581, Plates 16, 18-20, Nos.125 144a, 147b & 165, which are all Crediton types.
Subsequent action: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2150 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Beckingham, Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 108.8 mm
Thickness: 12.6 mm
Weight: 141.9 g
Description: A copper alloy flat axe dating from the Early Bronze Age period. The axe is 108.8mm long, 48.1mm wide and 12.6mm thick. It thickens in the middle and there are slight flanges, though not large enough to be of significant use. The cutting blade is curved and is wider than the rest of the axe. The butt is thin and tapers to a wide pointed end. The axe is badly pitted with active bronze disease and the thinner edges are chipped. Similar examples can be seen on page 165 and 166 of The National Museum of Wales's "Guide Catalogue of the Bronze Age Collections" (1980), particularly number 117 which is described as a chisel or flat axe but which is narrower and thinner than this example.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Awl (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1400 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: LEATHERHEAD, Mole Valley, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 44.04 mm
Thickness: 4.02 mm
Weight: 3.1 g
Description: A Bronze Age awl. The tapering tang has a square section and the point is rounded in section.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Nether Wallop, Test Valley, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 105.4 mm
Weight: 344 g
Description: Late Bronze Age bronze socketed axe of Southern English ribbed type, Class B (Type Welby) and of Ewart Park metalworking tradition, corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 7, c. 950 - 750BC.



The axe-head is complete, with an overall length of 105.4mm and a weight of 344.0g. The mouth of the axe is sub-rectangular, with internal dimensions of 31.1mm (depth) by 25.9mm (width). The sub-triangular socket has a depth of 75.4mm. No casting stubs are evident on the mouth but there are broken areas above each face, where the casting stubs may have been removed. Below the mouth (6.2mm beneath) is a prominent and well-defined mouth-moulding giving the axe a maximum depth of 43.5mm and width of 39.0mm. Beneath the moulding is a plain concave collar ending in a poorly-defined moulding, which appears as a slight step on the looped side. The loop begins immediately above the lower moulding and is of D-shaped section (5.6mm thick) with a width of 10.6mm, a length of 29.0mm and has a height of 11.6mm. The casting seams are clearly visible and have been neatly finished, but appear less well-finished above the loop. The sides are straight before they expand rapidly at the blade to produce a crescentric blade edge with a width of 52.3mm. Little of the original blade edge survives but the blade does not appear to be much worn. The axe has a rectangular body section, where the sides are slightly convex across their width. Both faces of the axe are decorated with three parallel ribs beginning at the lower moulding and continuing for 45mm. The face sides are also slightly enhanced to suggested further ribs. Rows of hammer marks are evident on the blade and sharpening striations are discernible running along the blade. The axe has good surface preservation with a mid-green patina. One face has a recent mark running as far as the blade which cuts the patina and was likely to have been caused during excavation. There is a black deposit surviving over large areas of the axe surface, confirmed by XRD analysis conducted by Mary Davis to be tenorite calcite, which is unlikely to be a natural corrosion product and was seemingly applied as a deliberate coating to the axe surface.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2300 to -1900)
Material: Copper 
Found: Yscir, Powys, Powys (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 126.9 mm
Thickness: 14.2 mm
Weight: 422 g
Description: Early Bronze Age copper flat axe, of Type 2C or 2D (following Needham forthcoming) or probably of Type Ballybeg / Roseisle (following Schmidt and Burgess 1981) of Metalworking Assemblage I-II, corresponding with the earlier part of Needham's (1996) Period 2, dated to c. 2,300 - 1,900BC.



The axe-head is near-complete and has an overall length of 126.9mm and has a weight of 422.0g. The relatively broad butt appears slightly damaged and is convex with rounded shoulders and has a width of 34.2mm. The sides are straight across the thickness of the axe, giving the axe a rectangular body section. Across its length, the sides are concave and slightly curved. The blade is damaged and the blade tip to blade edge only survives on one side, and suggests a moderately-expanded blade edge. There is the suggestion of a poorly-preserved blade facet, beginning 4mm from the current blade edge. The axe has a maximum thickness of 14.2mm at a point 75mm from the butt. The axe has poor surface preservation and is heavily pitted with a mid-green patina. Where the surface is damaged the axe surface has a pale green colour and has areas of purple, where the damage is deepest. Analysis to ascertain the elemental composition of the artefacts was carried out using aCamScan MaXim 2040 analytical scanning electron microscope (SEM), plus an Oxford Instruments Link Isis energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX). The objects were examined whole within the specimen chamber and were analysed for 100 live seconds using a working distance of 35mm and an accelerating voltage of 20kV. All the results presented are semi-quantitative. The results demonstrated that the axe is pure copper, with no other elements detected. The axe has relatively advanced features within the copper axe sequence; the relatively broad butt and the axe being thicker nearer the blade, suggests affinities to Type Dunnottar (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981, p 31), which are some of the earliest tin-bronze axes. The axe form suggests a chronological position towards the end of copper axe types, perhaps dated to approximately 2,200 - 2,00BC.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Knife (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: West Overton, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 67.9 mm
Diameter: 3 mm
Thickness: 2 mm
Description: Early Bronze Age bronze knife-dagger with midrib (Gerloff, 1975, p 168) The dagger is incomplete, missing some of the butt, areas of the blade edge and the tip. The dagger has a surviving length of 67.9mm and has a weight of 8.9g. The butt would have had two rivet-holes for hafting; the better preserved rivet hole has a diameter of 3.0mm. The butt has broken through both rivet-holes and the surviving area of the butt is straight and thin with a thickness of 0.5mm. The dagger has a maximum surviving width of 31.4mm. The midrib is widest at the butt (10mm) and gradually narrows with curved sides to the tip. The dagger has a maximum thickness of 2.0mm. Either side of the midrib the blade is gently concave before the blade facets. The blade facets have a width of 3.5mm. The blade edges were straight and convergent to the tip, producing a triangular form to the dagger. The dagger has good surface preservation with a dark green patina.
Notes: All Early Bronze Age knife-daggers recorded by Gerloff (1975, p170) were found associated with cremation burials beneath barrows within the Wessex Culture area. The findspot of this dagger, within 50m of one burial monument and 200m of another, suggests that the dagger deposition is related to the surrounding burial complex.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Awl (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Wantage, Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 47.33 mm
Thickness: 5.22 mm
Weight: 3.79 g
Description: A Bronze Age copper alloy awl.  The awl is square in section, one end is chisel-shaped and the other end pointed.

Dimensions: length 47.33mm; width 4.50mm; thickness 5.22mm; weight 3.79g
Notes: Found at the Oxfordshire Weekend Wanderers rally 02.09.07
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Unidentified Object (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to MODERN (-2150 to 2000)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Hooe, Wealden, East Sussex (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 13.5 mm
Thickness: 2.8 mm
Weight: 2.4 g
Description: A blob of copper alloy created by the cooling of a drop of melted copper, possibly from metal working, probably the remains of an item melted in a fire. There appears to be the remains of some shaping to the top and a ring of golden material (possibly brass) on the bottom. The blob is flat on the bottom, domed on the top and circular; the surface is heavily pitted. It is 13.5mm long, 12.4mm wide, 2.8mm thick and weighs 2.4 grams.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flanged Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1600 to -1400)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Llancarfan, the Vale of Glamorgan, the Vale of Glamorgan (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 136.4 mm
Weight: 380.3 g
Description: Final Early Bronze Age bronze cast-flanged axe (Early Short-flanged axe) of Type Kirtomy (Schmidt & Burgess; 1981, p 82-83) , of Acton Park metalworking and corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 4 dated to 1700 - 1500BC. The axe is complete with an overall length of 136.4mm and has a weight of 380.3g. The butt is slightly convex and has a width of 24.5. The sides are straight and parallel as far as the blade. The axe may be seen as comparatively slender with a width of 27mm. The flanges are of sub-lozenge form and are highest near the start of the blade (45mm from the butt), with a height of 27.0mm. The flanges are convex and faceted across their height. The interior of the flanges are convex, making the septum narrowest at the point where the flanges are highest. There is no stop on the septum and the axe has a convex (lenticular) profile across its length. The blade face has a weak central bevel and no blade facet is discernible. The sides of the blade expand moderately and turn-out at the tips to produce a curved blade with a width of 57.3mm. The axe has areas of very good surface preservation with a dark green patina, in other areas the surface is pitted with azurite and pale green corrosion products.
Notes: Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p 86) note that Type Kirtomy are difficult to date because of their comparatively plain form. Needham (1996, p 133) has also argued that his Period 4 saw a profusion of metalwork types produced under different traditions with the possibility of considerable overlap between the final Early Bronze Age and the earliest Middle Bronze Age.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Casting Waste (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to ROMAN (-1700 to 410)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Corby Glen, South Kesteven, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 23.63 mm
Thickness: 19.03 mm
Weight: 11.67 g
Description: Copper alloy casting jet.  The jet has a concave oval head with a single sprue extending from the centre beneath.  The sprue is rectangular in cross-section.  The surface of the jet is very worn and pitted.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1400)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Llanharan, ,  ()
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 119.3 mm
Thickness: 24.7 mm
Weight: 301.2 g
Description: Middle Bronze Age bronze unlooped palstave (Early Palstave Group II) of unusual form and probably of Early Midribbed type and of uncertain subtype, possibly of Type Liswerry (Schmidt & Burgess; 1981, p 125-127).



The palstave belongs to the Acton Park metalworking phase of the Middle Bronze Age, corresponding to the earlier part of Needham's (1996) Period 5, dated to 1500 - 1150BC. The palstave is complete and is comparatively short with a length of only 119.3mm and a weight of 301.2g. The butt is slightly concave and has a width of 22.8mm. The sides are straight and parallel as far as the stop, with a width at the stop of 28.5mm. The flanges begin from the septum and below the butt. The flanges are rounded across their length and reach a maximum height of 28.4mm before the stop (46mm from the butt). The sides are slightly concave across their height, turning inwards at the flange tops. The septum is straight and has a thickness of 9.3mm. The interior of the flanges and the stop are right angled to the septum. The axe has a thickness of 24.7mm at the stop and the stops have a depth of 8.8mm above the septum. While the flanged area of the axe is of normal length, the blade portion of the axe is unusually short with a length of 51mm. The sides of the blade diverge gently, before out-turning sharply at the blade tips and producing a curved blade edge with a width of 48.7mm. The original blade edge has been lost. The flanges continue along the blade face, forming short ribs (15mm long). The blade face has a central, poorly-defined rib, which is less deep than the height of the stop. Either side of the central rib are rounded depressions against the stop. The central rib forms a central bevel on the face and produces a convex profile across the width of the blade face. There is no discernible blade facet. The axe has poor surface survival and is pitted. Small areas of the original surface survive with a dark green patina, notably at the blade and over the septum. At the blade, sharpening striations are evident running perpendicular to the blade. The axe has recently been coated in an oily substance. It is now unclear whether the short blade is the result of deliberate manufacture, possibly for a specialised function or less likely, is the result of prolonged use and wear.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lockinge, Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 25.37 mm
Thickness: 6.3 mm
Weight: 15.1 g
Description: 
A late Bronze Age copper alloy socketed axehead mouth with casting seam and moulded ridges.

Notes: Found at the Oxfordshire Weekend Wanderers rally 02.09.07 - 03.09.07
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lockinge, Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 24.13 mm
Thickness: 4.75 mm
Weight: 16.93 g
Description: A fragment from a middle Bronze Age copper alloy palstave axe (1500-1150BC). The fragment is H-shaped in section. Dark green patination covers all surfaces indicating the object was broken in antiquity. Dimensions: length 24.13mm; width 20.32mm; thickness 4.75mm; weight 16.93g
Notes: Found at the Oxfordshire Weekend Wanderers rally 01.09.07 - 02.09.07
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flanged Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1700 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Newcastle Higher, Bridgend, Bridgend (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 122.7 mm
Thickness: 12.7 mm
Weight: 289.4 g
Description: Early Bronze Age bronze cast-flanged axe of uncertain type, possibly a long-flanged axe of Type Balbirnie (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981, p 70-72) , likely to be of Late Willerby or early Acton Park metalworking phase, corresponding to the earlier part of Needham's (1996) Period 4 (1700 - 1500 BC), perhaps dating to 1700 - 1600 BC.



The axehead is complete but has eroded considerably, and has an overall length of 122.7mm and a weight of 289.4g. The butt is straight and has a width of 23.0mm. The flanges begin from the septum, 11mm from the butt. The flanges are irregular, probably because of erosion, but are oval to lozenge in shape and appear higher on one face than the other. On one face, the flanges have a height of only 2.7mm and would suggest a developed flat axe; while the other face has flanges 6.4mm high indicating cast flanges. The flanges have a maximum depth of 20.4mm and are convex across the thickness of the axe. The sides are parallel and straight or slightly concave for the majority of the septum and begin to diverge at the position of the median bevel. There is no stopridge on the septum, but the septum gradually becomes thicker to a maximum of 12.7mm at 60mm from the butt at a barely discernible median bevel. The sides of the blade are divergent and produce a maximum surviving width at the blade edge of 48.7mm. It is now uncertain whether the irregular blade shape is because of wear or erosion. Both blade tips and the blade edge have been lost, but one side has the suggestion of a recurved blade. A blade facet is discernible on one of the faces, beginning a maximum of 13mm from the current blade edge. The surface of the axe appears poorly preserved with a pale to dark green colour and has recently been coated in a lacquer or vanish. The high flanges on one side indicate the axe to be cast-flanged, the absence of a stopridge suggest the axe is early in the development of this form and suggest Type Balbirnie as an earliest or transitional type of cast-flanged axe.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-900 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Pirbright, Guildford, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 101.25 mm
Description: A complete Late Bronze Age socketed axe. The surface of the axe is in very fine condition with only a little iron staining and a small amount of green corrosion on the blade edge. 
The width of the blade is 46.06mm. The exterior width of the socket is 38.75mm. Internally the socket measures 28.63mm by 27.85mm.
Notes: The axe was recovered from woodland in a wet context. The reported depth at which the axe was found is c0.60m. It is possible that the deposition of the axe was intentional.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2300 to -2050)
Material: Copper 
Found: St. Nicholas and Bonvilston, the Vale of Glamorgan, the Vale of Glamorgan (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 67.8 mm
Thickness: 9.6 mm
Weight: 195.1 g
Description: Early Bronze Age copper flat axe, probably of Type Migdale (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981, p 35-36) or Needham's (forthcoming) Class 2D, and belonging to metalworking stage III, corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 2 dated to 2300 - 2050BC.



The axe is broken and has lost the butt in antiquity, with a current surviving length of 67.8mm and weighs 195.1g. The axe has a width of 47.7mm and a thickness of 9.6mm at the break and is of sub rectangular section. One of the sides is comparatively straight, while the other side is concave and divergent to produce a moderately expanded blade edge. The blade has a width of 68.2mm. The surviving areas of the faces are concave and would have produced a lenticular profile across the length of the axe. The axe has poor surface preservation with areas of pale green patina on one face, elsewhere the surface is brown.
Notes: Analysis to ascertain the elemental composition of the artefacts was carried out using a CamScan MaXim 2040 analytical scanning electron microscope (SEM), plus an Oxford Instruments Link Isis energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX). The objects were examined whole within the specimen chamber and were analysed for 100 live seconds using a working distance of 35mm and an accelerating voltage of 20kV. All the results presented are semi-quantitative. The results demonstrated that the axe is almost pure copper, but some arsenic was detected (99% Copper, 1% arsenic).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Penllyn, the Vale of Glamorgan, the Vale of Glamorgan (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 52 mm
Thickness: 8.2 mm
Weight: 19.4 g
Description: Bronze Age spear tip of uncertain type and date within the Bronze Age The spear is represented by the tip only, with a surviving length of 52.mm and a weight of 19.4g. The spearhead broke in antiquity and there is no socket evident on the fragment. The spear has a width of 20.4mm and a thickness of 8.2mm at the break. The spear had a prominent and comparatively wide rounded midrib (12mm wide at the break). The midrib alignment differs between faces, as is evident on the cross-section break. The sides of the spear are comparatively straight or slightly convex along the length of the fragment. Areas of the original survive with a deep brown patina and show a blade facet (2.5mm wide) and sharpening striations running along the blade. Elsewhere the current surface is pale green. The fragment is curved along its length, suggesting it was bent prior to breaking. The proportions of the fragment may suggest a heavier spearhead type, possibly a Late Bronze Age pegged spearhead with a flame-shaped blade.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Casting Waste (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to ROMAN (-2000 to 410)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Folkingham, South Kesteven, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 37.5 mm
Thickness: 4.94 mm
Weight: 24.14 g
Description: Possible fragment of casting waste.  The fragment is an irregular incomplete cylinder with a moulded wavey ridge on the exterior.  The surface grainy and pitted, and has patches of a light brown patina on the interior.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Loggerheads, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 138.5 mm
Thickness: 34.2 mm
Description: A copper alloy low flanged (broad blade) palstave dating from the Middle Bronze Age (1500-1150).  The transverse butt is slightly uneven and incomplete.  The septum is flat on both sides of the palstave. Flanges surround the septum, except at the butt.  These flanges increase in height towards the blade, with the zenith at the curved stop.  The protruding stop is positioned over a third of the way down the palstave.  There is a loop between the stop and the blade on one of the sides of the palstave.  There is some visible evidence of casting flashes running down the centre of both sides, but this is rather indistinct.  Below the stop the blade flares outwards towards the curved blade tips which are splayed. The blade has a heavily curved faceted/bevelled cutting edge.  Below the butt, and running approximately half way down the blade, is a decoration formed by a raised “V” with a raised sub-triangular design nested within. This points towards the blade.

The palstave has a dark brown patina. It is in very good condition other than a number of pitted areas of the surface, an incision on one side of the blade, and some damage to the cutting edge, blade tip, and butt.  The maximum dimensions of the Palstave are 138.5mm long, 66.6 mm wide at the blade, and 34.9mm wide across the butt. It is above the maximum weight of the scales used.

Building on work by Smith (1959), Schmidt and Burgess (1981, p128) identify a group of palstaves as Early Palstaves Group III: Low Flanged (Broad Blade) Palstaves.  These always have a broad blade, splaying to a fan shape, and wide at the edge.  The palstave described in this record appears to fit most closely within this category.  Furthermore, within Group III, this palstave appears to most closely fit into the Type Carleton.  These are looped low flanged palstaves with an expanded edge and protruding blade tips.  The decoration is usually a version of the trident pattern, either an all ribbed trident or a long rib bisecting a shield.  A similar example to the palstave described in this record is catalogue reference 829, in Schmidt and Burgess (1981, plate 60), although this has a more distinct midrib than the example described in this record.

Schmidt and Burgess (1981) argue that the Low Flanged (Broad Blade) palstaves were a logical development from the shield pattern and early midribbed palstaves which preceeded them. They also suggest that, based on evidence of hoards, the type were superseded by Smith’s (1959) transitional form.

The palstave fits within Needham’s Period 5 (Middle Bronze Age,1500-1150).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Ingot (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -750)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Ash, Dover, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 59.53 mm
Thickness: 22.54 mm
Description: Fragment of copper 'bun ingot' (or 'cake').  Plano-convex edge fragment.  Ingots such as this usually date to the Late Bronze Age, where they occur frequently in metalwork hoards.
Notes: The ingot weighs more than 200g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Metal Working Debris (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to POST MEDIEVAL (-2150 to 1700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Wittersham, Ashford, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 38.8 mm
Thickness: 25.3 mm
Weight: 140 g
Description: A large lump of copper, it's rounded appearence suggests it has cooled from molton metal in a crucible or other mould. One side is almost flat, the top is domed and the sides rounded, it may originally have been oval as it appears to have been cut on one face, the cut is now worn. It may have been made on site or have been carried here for metal working.
It is difficult to give this item an exact date although study of the composition might help, a date of Bronze Age - post-medieval has thus been given although it is likely to sit within the earlier part of this range.
It is 38.8mm long, 38.7mm wide, 25.3mm thick and weighs 140 grams.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Airedale and Ferry Fryston, Wakefield, Wakefield (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 140.4 mm
Thickness: 35.6 mm
Weight: 396 g
Description: A copper alloy Middle Bronze Age flanged axe or palstave. It has a shield-shaped depression on the blade beneath the stop on both faces. It has a raised rounded stop ridge between the flanges which are quite high, giving a roughly diamond shape to the side of the body of the palstave. The butt end is missing. The cutting edge is crescent shaped. The casting spur is visible on both sides. The axe is 140.4mm long, 55.1mm wide and 35.6mm thick. It probably belongs to the Acton Park period of metalworking (Needham 2004 unpub.) and dates from between 1500BC and 1150BC. There is a hole in the stop, between the flanges which may suggest that the axehead is hollow. The axe is suffering from serious corrosion and pitting, but has a glossy deep green patina where it is not damaged. Similar axes can be seen on the PAS database. One example is SOM-1E8616.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1400 to -1120)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Gwynedd (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 135 mm
Weight: 39.6 g
Description: Middle Bronze Age bronze socketed spearhead of Greenwell and Brewis (1909) Class IV side-looped (socket -looped) type, or Davis' (2012) Type 6C Developed side-looped, probably of Taunton-Penard metalworking phases, corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 5, c. 1500 - 1150BC.



The spearhead is incomplete and fragmentary, with a combined surviving length of 135.0mm and a combined weight of 39.6g. The lower of the three fragments would have been near the original socket rim and would have had a diameter of approximately 15mm. The sides of the socket are straight and converge towards the blade. The lower socket fragment was bent outwards prior to breaking. The loops have flat tops and begin 21.5mm from the current base, with lengths of 15.6mm and 17.0mm (3.3mm and 3.9mm internal). The casting flashes are evident on both sides and have been neatly finished. The blade is leaf-shaped and is slender with a maximum surviving width near its base of 19.5mm. The blade edges are straight and blade facets are discernible. The central rib is slender and comparatively high, producing a concave-sided lozenge blade profile. The tip of the spearhead has been lost. The surface of the spearhead is well-preserved with a dark-brown patina.
Notes: This spearhead has been published by Davis (2012, No.391) and classed within his Type 6C Developed side-looped (Flame, flat blade, narrow plates). Davis (2012, 82f.) lists 131 of this type of spearhead from Britain, with concentrations around the Thames Valley, East Anglia, Wessex and the east Midlands, and scattered distribution in Wales and Scotland. Another Type 6C spearhead was recovered from Llaneugrad, Isle of Anglesey (Davis 2012, No.414).



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.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flanged Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Snape with Thorp, Hambleton, North Yorkshire (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 107.72 mm
Thickness: 12.38 mm
Description: Cast copper alloy axe head dating to the Early Bronze Age.  The object is a flanged axe with a slightly flared body, the narrowest point being at the butt.  The cutting edge is curved and shows traces of hammering.  There is no trace of a stop ridge.  Similar objects are known from Arreton Down and Willerby.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Dagger (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-900 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Snape with Thorp, Hambleton, North Yorkshire (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 124.57 mm
Thickness: 9.43 mm
Description: Late Bronze Age spearhead or dagger cast in copper alloy.  The object is socketed; the core of the socket is filled with earth.  The blade is lozenge-shaped in section, with an ovoid-sectioned socket.  There is a small step between the socket and the blade.  Located on the socket, below the base of either of the cutting edges are perforations 6.2mm in diameter.  The thickness of the metal of the socket is 1.8mm.  The object resembles a Donington on Bain type spearhead.  Also, see the Thorndon class knives from the Petters hoard.  A second piece of this object was located 4 meters away from the main part.  This fragment fits onto the damaged socket.  It measures 29.48mm long, 41.4mm wide, 1.98mm in thickness and weighs 4.94g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to ROMAN ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Bishopstone, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 22.1 mm
Weight: 4.4 g
Description: Miniature copper alloy axe of Late Bronze Age to Romano-British date (c. 1200 BC -AD 400) and of Robinson's (1988, p61) type 1 or possibly 2. The axe head is complete, with an overall length of 22.1mm and a weight of 4.4g. The butt is sub-rectangular and convex (8.2mm x 4.9mm), at the centre is a small oval depression (3.9mm long, 1.9mm wide, 0.9mm deep) representing the socket of a socketed axe, similar to Late Bronze Age forms. The unlooped side is slightly concave and is rounded across its thickness. The loped side is more concave. The loop begins 4.6mm from the butt and end 9.4mm from the butt. The loop has a circular internal perforation with a diameter of 2.0mm. The loop is of D-shaped section with a thickness of 1.8mm and a width of 3.2mm. It was possible that the axe was suspended from the loop as a pendant or similar. The blade edge is straight with rounded blade tips. The axe has a wedge-shaped profile and both faces are plain. The surface is well preserved with pale to dark green patina.
Notes: Metallurgical analysis was attempted using a CamScan MaXim 2040 analytical scanning electron microscope (SEM), plus an Oxford Instruments Link Isis energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX). This object has a fine, even patination, and it was not possible to analyse the underlying metal. The results show a leaded bronze, which would be consistent with LBA compositions, but a Roman date could not be rules out by the analysis. Miniature axes have a largely south west England distribution with a concentration in Wiltshire; Robinson catalogues 36 examples from the county (ibid). The axes are problematic to date because of a lack of reliable contextual information. The creation of a cast socket would seem to suggest a Late Bronze Age date and miniature axes have been found near midden sites such as Whitchurch in Warwickshire (Waddington pers comm.) and from Potterne in Wiltshire. Robinson (1988, p 61) speculates that Late Bronze Age axes may have been venerated and copied as amulates into the Roman period.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Ingot (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to IRON AGE ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: St. Nicholas and Bonvilston, the Vale of Glamorgan, the Vale of Glamorgan (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Diameter: 110 mm
Weight: 1140.2 g
Description: Late Bronze Age copper plano-convex ingot probably of Ewart Park or Llyn Fawr metalworking industry, corresponding to Needham's (1996) Periods 7 to 8, c. 950 - 500BC The ingot is represented by approximately quarter of the original and has been roughly broken. The ingot would have had a diameter of 110mm and the quarter ingot has a weight of 1,140.2g, indicating an approximate weight of 4,560g for the whole ingot. This would imply a comparatively large ingot. The surface of the metal is corroded and has a pale green patina with areas of red-brown surface.
Notes: Analysis to ascertain the elemental composition of the artefact was carried out using a CamScan MaXim 2040 analytical scanning electron microscope (SEM), plus an Oxford Instruments Link Isis energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX). Analysis was able to confirm that the ingot is of pure copper with no minor elements detected. The ingot was said to have been found with another fragment of similar size but both were initially not recognised as artefacts and discarded. The copper composition is of interest since it strengthens the argument for founders having precise control over metal composition in the Late Bronze Age rather than continued recycling leading to Copper ingot are generally associated with Ewart Park metalworking (Cunliffe 1988 ) although they have been found with Llyn Fawr. Ingot fragments associated with Ewart Park metalwork are more typically c. 25-250g. A copper ingot from a Ewart Park hoard found at Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan (Gwilt & Lodwick, in preparation), which is approximately 80% complete, weighed 212g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Woolaston, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 44.2 mm
Thickness: 9.1 mm
Weight: 14.9 g
Description: Bronze Age bronze spearhead fragment of uncertain type and probably from a socketed spearhead of Middle to Late Bronze Age date, c. 1500 - 750 BC The spearhead is represented by a tip fragment with a surviving length of 44.2mm and a weight of 14.9g. The fragment has a maximum surviving width and thickness at the break of 17.0mm and 9.1mm respectively. The spearhead has a prominent rounded midrib (6.9mm wide and 1.9mm high at the break) which narrows towards the tip. The better preserved side has blade facets with a width of 2.5mm. Deep striations along the blade facets may be the result of sharpening. The blade facets are curved suggesting the spearhead would have had a rounded leaf-shaped blade. The spearhead fragment has generally good surface preservation with a dark green patina.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Hoard (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: MAULDEN, ,  ()
Discovery method: Metal detector
Description: Middle Bronze Age base-metal group from Maulden, Bedfordshire Treasure case: 2006 T260 Circumstances of discovery Two objects of prehistoric bronze metalwork were found by [ ] whilst metal-detecting on formerly ploughed pasture land in Maulden, Bedfordshire on 23rd April and 7th May 2006. One of the objects is comprised of two fragments though the proximity of their discovery is not clear. Description 1. Rapier/Dirk fragment. Part of the blade and hilt. The blade expands progressively towards the hilt. Broad central single rib on either face. The blade edge is corrosion damaged, slightly pocked and has a light green patina. L: 59.0mm; W. blade 16.0mm tapering to hilt 29.0mm; Wt: 18.0g. 2. Rapier/Dirk fragment. Part of the blade. Broad central single rib on either face. The blade edge is corrosion damaged, scratched, slightly pocked and has a light green patina. L: 48.5mm; W: 12.0-10.5mm; Wt: 11.6g. 3. Rapier/Dirk fragment. Part of a narrow tapering blade. The blade edge is corrosion damaged, scratched, chipped down the blade edge, slightly pocked on the blade face and has a light green patina. L: 91.0mm; W: 15.0 tapering to 4.0mm; Wt: 29.1g. Dimensions (millimetres/grams) L: length W: width Wt: weight Discussion The two Rapier/Dirk fragments represented by the joining fragments (nos. 1-2) can be dated to the c. 1500-1100 BC when these objects were in circulation. The lack of diagnostic features means that further chronological resolution through typology is not possible. Conclusion Though contextual details are sparse, it is probable that these objects formed a single original deposit or hoard dispersed through the actions of the plough seems very likely. This material is eligible as Treasure under the new Treasure Order (2002) being a base-metal prehistoric find containing two or more metal objects. Ben Roberts 25th January 2007 Curator of European Bronze Age British Museum Great Russell Street London WC1B 3DG
Notes: TVC recommended valuation: £30
Subsequent action: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Greywell, Hart, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 30.53 mm
Thickness: 3.14 mm
Description: 
The tip of a slender blade, perhaps from a spear or a rapier of Bronze Age date. The blade is thicker in the middle and tapers to the blade.

Notes: 
No photograph is available.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder