Object: Hoard (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Discovery method: Metal detector
Description: The hoard comprises two associated Bronze Age artefacts:



Plain pegged spearhead fragment



Maximum surviving length 61.3mm; maximum surviving blade width 18.3mm; maximum surviving socket height 13.0mm; maximum blade thickness near break 8.0mm. Weight 22.8g. 



This is the lower blade side and upper socket side of a bronze socketed spearhead. The blade edge has a defined bevel approximately 5mm wide. The interior of the blade is slightly hollowed out immediately adjacent to where the central and circular rib cavity once existed. The blade edge merges with the socket with a shallow and gradual angle, with no nick or break of slope. The even convex curve of the lower blade suggests the spearhead once had a leaf or flame shaped form. The fragment has a dark brown patina and appears to have been coated with oil since discovery.



Single-runner casting jet 



Maximum top surface length 33.8mm; maximum top surface width 26.8mm; depth 23.1mm; length of runner near break 15.4mm; width runner near break 3.9mm. Weight 50.7g. 



This is a single-runner bronze casting jet, oval in plan, with a rough and uneven tope surface. One underside long axis has a near straight profile with a lower inward tapering step, while the opposing side is more steeply undercut, with a slightly concave profile. The underside break is worn and eroded, making it difficult to establish the original dimensions of the casting runner with any precision. The patina is dark green with lighter green edges and breaks.
Notes: The plain pegged spearhead fragment can be confidently identified as of Middle to Late Bronze Age date and dating to between 1300-800BC (e.g. Greenwell and Brewis 1909, 463; Ehrenberg 1977, 3, 13-14 & Fig. 1; O'Connor 1980, 100-101, 138-41; Northover unpublished, 271, 283). The shape of the surviving blade edge is consistent with either a leaf shaped or flame shaped blade. In Wales, early examples of similar plain pegged socketed spearheads are found in the Penard, Guilsfield and Princetown hoards, the first dating to 1300-1150BC and the second and third dating to 1020-920BC (Barnwell 1864; Savory 1965; 1972; 1980, 117-19, Cats. 266, 268 & 272; Figs. 32-8 & 40). However, they become most common as associations within hoards of slightly later Ewart Park date, dating to 950-800BC. In Wales, there are eleven other known hoards of Ewart Park date which included plain pegged spearhead associations: the Ty Mawr (Anglesey), Llandderfel (Gwynedd), Llantysilio (Denbighshire), Pant-y-Maen (Pembrokeshire), St Ishmael (Carmarthenshire), Llantwit Major, Cowbridge (all Vale of Glamorgan), St Fagans (Cardiff), Llangwm, Glascoed and Llanvihangel Gobion (all Monmouthshire) hoards (Barnwell 1864; Williams 1877; Davies 1929, 368; Burgess et al 1972, 240; Savory 1980, 120-1, Cats. 273 & 281; Gwilt 2004, 132-4, Appendix 1, Nos. 1, 3 & 9; 2008; Lynch 1991, 246-9 & Fig. 69; Northover unpublished, H4, 53, 74, 85,108, 121, 141; Gwilt & Lodwick unpublished; Gwilt et al, in prep). The wooden hafts of a number of plain pegged spearheads in England have also been radiocarbon dated to this period (Needham et al 1997, 93-8). Therefore, on a balance of probability, this spearhead is thought most likely to date to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age, between 950BC and 800BC (Needham 1996, 136-7 & Fig. 3).





Casting jets only become common discoveries within hoard associations during the Late Bronze Age. These are the excess reservoirs of metal created in the cavity at the top of the mould during the casting process. An early association of a single runner jet within a hoard may be found within the Guilsfield hoard (Savory 1965, Fig. 7.24; 1980, 117-8, Cat. 268 & Fig. 38), dating to the Blackmoor phase of the Late Bronze Age, between 1020-920BC (Needham et al 1997, 82). However, casting jets become most common as associations within hoards of Ewart Park date (950-800BC), with thirteen other hoards of secure Ewart Park date from Wales now known to include them: the Penwyllt (Powys), Manorbier (Pembrokeshire), St Ishmael (Carmarthenshire), Llantwit Major, Penarth, Cowbridge, St Nicholas, Llancarfan, Brigam Farm (all Vale of Glamorgan), Tal y Garn 2 (Rhondda Cynon Taf), St Mellons (Cardiff), Glascoed and Llangybi (both Monmouthshire) hoards (Savory 1980, 120-22, Cats. 274, 281 284; Stanton 1984; Gwilt, 2004, Appendix 1, Nos. 3 & 4; Gwilt & Lodwick 2004; unpublished; Gwilt et al, unpublished; Gwilt et al, in prep). Therefore, on a balance of probability, the casting jet is thought most likely to date to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age (950-800BC).





To summarise, plain pegged spearheads and casting jets are contemporary in their dating to between 1020-800BC, during the Blackmoor and Ewart Park phases of the Late Bronze Age, although a Ewart Park date (950-800BC) is the most likely, on a balance of probability.



References



Barnwell, E.L. (1864) Bronze Implements, Archaeologia Cambrensis 10(3rd series), 212-31.



Burgess, C., Coombs, D. & Davies, D.G. (1972) The Broadward Complex and Barbed Spearheads, In F. Lynch & C. Burgess (eds.), Prehistoric Man in Wales and the West; Essays in honour of Lily F. Chitty, Bath: Adams & Dart, 211-83.



Davies, E. (1929) The Prehistoric & Roman Remains of Denbighshire, Cardiff: William Lewis.



DCMS (2002) The Treasure Act 1996; Code of Practice (Revised); England & Wales; London: Department for Culture, Media and Sport.



Ehrenberg, M.R. (1977) Bronze Age Spearheads from Berks, Bucks and Oxon, British Archaeological Reports 34, Oxford: British Archaeological Reports.



Greenwell, W. & Brewis, W.P. 1909 The Origins, Evolution and Classification of the Bronze Spear-head in Great Britain and Ireland, Archaeologia 61, 439-72.



Gwilt, A. (2004) Late Bronze Age Societies (1150-600BC); Tools and Weapons, In M. Aldhouse-Green & R. Howell (eds.), The Gwent County History; Volume I; Gwent in Prehistory and Early History, Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 111-39.



Gwilt, A. (2008) 1223. Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan: Late Bronze Age hoard (05.15), Treasure Annual Report 2005/6, London: Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 221.



Gwilt, A. & Lodwick, M. (2004) 403. Llangybi, Monmouthshire: Bronze Age axe blade fragment and bronze casting-jet for axe (2004 T345; 03.17), Treasure Annual Report 2003, London: Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 170.



Gwilt, A. & Lodwick, M. unpublished The Cowbridge Hoard, unpublished catalogue manuscript.



Gwilt, A., Lodwick, M., Schlee, D. Poucher, P. & Davis, M. (unpublished) A Late Bronze Age hoard from Manorbier, Pembrokeshire ( Treasure Case 10.12 Wales), unpublished treasure report.



Gwilt, A. Johnson, S.L. & Lodwick, M. (in prep) A Late Bronze Age Hoard from St Ishmael, Carmarthenshire (Treasure Case 11.10 Wales), unpublished treasure report.



Lynch, F. (1991) Prehistoric Anglesey, Llangefni: The Anglesey Antiquarian Society(2nd edition).



Needham, S. (1996) Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age, Acta Archaeologica 67, 121-40.



Needham, S., Ramsey, C.B., Coombs, D., Cartwright, C. & Pettitt, P. (1997) An Independent Chronology for British Bronze Age Metalwork: The Results of the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Programme, Archaeological Journal 154, 55-107.



Northover, J. P. (unpublished) Bronze Age Metalwork of Wales and The Marches, unpublished manuscript and catalogue.



O'Connor, B. (1980) Cross-Channel Relations in the Later Bronze Age, BAR International Series 91 (2 vols.), Oxford: British Archaeological Reports.



Savory, H.N. (1965) The Guilsfield Hoard, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 21(II), 179-96.



Savory, H.N. (1972) A Late Bronze Age Hoard from Princetown (Mon.), Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 25(I), 92-7.



Savory, H. N. (1980) Guide Catalogue of the Bronze Age Collections, Cardiff: National Museum of Wales.



Stanton, Y.C. (1984) The Hoard of South Wales or 'Stogursey' Axes from St Mellons, South Glamorgan: A Preliminary Statement, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 31(III), 191-5 & Pls. I-II.



Williams, W.W. (1877) Bronze Implements and Copper Cake, Archaeologia Cambrensis 8(4th series), 206-211.
Subsequent action: Submitted for consideration as Treasure