dejp3/bronze-age-objects-pas huggingface dataset:
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Welsh St. Donats, the Vale of Glamorgan, the Vale of Glamorgan (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 77.2 mm
Thickness: 60 mm
Weight: 194.6 g
Description: Complete faceted axe of squat baggy shape with eight facets. Mouth is flared and trumpet shaped, with sub-rectangular internal and external shape. There are no haft ribs inside the socket and the base of the socket is evenly shaped. Axe has a wide onset collar 13.5mm in width. A low set loop extends from the lower edge of the collar, whilst the facets begin below the collar. The axe has divergent and concave sides expanding at the blade end, but with no recurving of blade edge sides. The casting seams are extremely ephemeral, illustrating the care and skill taken to cast this axe. The mouth surface appears to have been filed flat. The cutting edge has a moderate convex curve, with striations parallel to it on the blade bevel indicating preparation of the blade for use. Green carbonate encrustation over a green-grey patination.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Welsh St. Donats, the Vale of Glamorgan, the Vale of Glamorgan (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 107 mm
Thickness: 62 mm
Weight: 209.5 g
Description: Complete plain and slender axe with wide trumpet shaped and flaring collar.  Insubstantial loop extends from the middle of the onset collar.  The mouth has an oval internal and external shape and the axe is oval in cross section.  Excess metal protrudes around the internal circumference of the mouth top.  The socket narrows to a point.  The sides of the axe are concave and diverge to form a splaying blade edge, whilst the casting flashes have only been coarsely trimmed.  Excess metal within the loop has not been removed.  The blade edge has been extensively damaged  through corrosion, although striations parallel to it on the blade bevel indicate that the blade was at least partially prepared for use.  A slight imperfection in the original mould is visible as a slight linear ridge running down the face of the collar and below onto the upper face.  Green patination with green carbonate encrustation.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Pont-y-Clun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Rhondda Cynon Taf (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 52 mm
Thickness: 12.8 mm
Weight: 55.2 g
Description: 
Late Bronze socketed axe fragment of Ewart Park metalworking tradition and possibly of South Wales Type. The axe fragment is heavily corroded, with none of the original external surface surviving. The axe has broken in antiquity, and only the bottom blade part is represented. One face has broken at the base of the socket, while the other face is present for approximately a little over half of its original length. The axe is comparatively small and slender, with the sides gently diverging to the blade. No evidence for a splayed blade survives. The more complete face exhibits the remnants of ribs, and appears to have had four (rather than three) parallel or slightly converging ribs. The casting seam may be discerned on both sides, and considering the degree of surface loss, must have been fairly prominent. The blade edge does not survive. The interior of the socket has much better surface preservation and has patches of black colouring, possibly remnants of tenorite.

Notes: Socketed axes of a variety of types are prolific in south Wales as both single and hoarded objects. South Wales axes are the most common, with over 120 examples now known. Examples of both complete and damaged socketed axes in hoards within the National Collection of Wales include St.Mellons, Cardiff (Stanton 1984), Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan (Savory 1980, no.281) and Penwyllt, Ystradgynlais, Powys (Savory 1980, no.284).

Socketed axes of a variety of forms belong to the Ewart Park phase of the British Late Bronze Age (Needham 1981, 32-37). Recently, this phase has been radiocarbon dated to 1020-800BC cal (Needham et al. 1997; Needham 1996).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Dirk (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1200)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Carmarthenshire (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 140.7 mm
Thickness: 4.7 mm
Weight: 33.2 g
Description: Incomplete dirk missing both the butt and point, and of Middle Bronze Age date . The dirk has a plain ogival shaped blade with a rounded central rib producing a flattened lozenge cross-section. The butt no longer survives, however the blade size and shape suggest it to be a Group II dirk (Burgess & Gerloff 1981). The butt has corroded to a trapezoidal form, although this should not imply any similarity to the butt when complete. None of the corroded notches around the butt can be positively identified as rivet holes, however it is tempting to see the arc near the top of the dirk as the possible remnants of a rivet hole. The condition of the dirk is generally poor with large areas of the surface missing, and has an orange-brown patination.
Notes: Most dirks of group II can be confidently ascribed to Acton Park metalworking tradition although occasional examples have been found associated with Taunton phase metalwork (Burgess & Gerloff 1981, p44-45). This example is likely to date from Period 5 (Needham 1996), and was probably produced sometime between 1500 and 1200 BC.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lissington, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 30.7 mm
Thickness: 6.2 mm
Weight: 7.47 g
Description: Fragment of an axe blade only one half of the blade remains. 
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Found: Llangybi, Monmouthshire, Monmouthshire (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 33.5 mm
Thickness: 15.7 mm
Weight: 53.5 g
Description: Blade end fragment from a Late Bronze Age socketed axe, probably from the Ewart Park metalworking tradition, dated to c.1000-800BC. The axe fragment comprises of an eroded blade edge and bottom of the socket, much of the original surface has been lost. The axe would have been of comparatively slender form and possibly had re-curved sides. The surface on one face has the remnants of two of the (probable) three ribs, which appear to be running parallel to one another.
Notes: The axe fragment was found associated with a casting jet for a South Wales axe (NMGW-126833), and the find thus constitutes metalworking hoard. The four runner nature of the jet might indicate the axe fragment was a South Wales axe.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Crawley, Winchester, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 61 mm
Description: 
A copper alloy blade tip, probably from a sword of late Bronze Age date. The cross section is lenticular with a curved midrib. The surface is well preserved with traces of grinding.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: New Inn, Torfaen, Torfaen (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 22.6 mm
Thickness: 10.7 mm
Weight: 32.2 g
Description: 
Blade end fragment from a Late Bronze Age socketed axe. The axe-head is represented by the blade and base of the socket only, none of the original surface survives. The axe blade would have been comparatively slender and has a gently curving blade edge. The sides are rounded and no remnants of casting flashes survive. Neither face shows evidence of ribs, although they may not be expected to be seen at the level of the fragment.

Notes: A large variety of complete and fragmentary socketed axes were deposited as single finds and in hoards during the Ewart Park metalworking phase of the Late Bronze Age (c.1000-800 BC). The fragmentation of blade ends broken across the internal socket aperture is a common occurrence and may have been deliberate. For instance, four socketed axe blade ends are known in the Late Bronze Age hoard from St. Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Found: Limpsfield, Tandridge, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Thickness: 39 mm
Description: Blade fragment from a late Bronze Age socketed axe. The base of the socket survives but there is little of the original surface.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1450 to -1350)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Llanbadrig, Isle of Anglesey, Isle of Anglesey (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 151 mm
Thickness: 33.6 mm
Weight: 371.9 g
Description: Early midribbed (Group II) palstave, probably of Type Liswerry and probably dating to the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age and belonging to Acton Park metalworking tradition c. 1450-1350 BC. The palstave has a narrow form and is parallel sided at the rear, extending as far as the beginning of the blade. The blade sides gradually diverge to a point corresponding to a blade facet on the face, after which it expands into wide blade producing a deep crescentic blade edge. Remnants of the casting seams are visible on both sides. The butt is concave and the flanges at the rear of the axe are straight as far as immediately before the straight stop. The blade thickness is shallower than the flanges, producing a gradient from the blade to the stop. The stop on one face extends beyond the height of the flanges. The sides of the face on the blade have low flange extensions, which continue as far as the blade facet, as does the single rib on each face.
Notes: Dating early palstaves remains problematic, Norhtover (forthcoming) has stated that Group II palstaves belong to the earlier stages of Acton Park (or Acton Park 1), and Needham (1996) argues that no true metalwork assemblage can be defined as Acton Park 1 and groups Acton Park 2 with Taunton in his Period 5 (1500-1150 BC), Needham's (1996) C14 dating of a broad-bladed shield pattern palstave, however, was dated to 1 sigma to 1610-1420 BC (OXA -4651). Northover (forthcoming) notes the composition of some Liswerry palstaves, including Liswerry itself produced signatures consistent with Taunton phase metalworking (c. 1350-1200 BC) The distribution of early midribbed palstaves in Wales and the Marches is generally south eastern in contrast to a mainly northern distribution of shield pattern palstaves.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Dagger (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2500 to -2150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Witton Gilbert, County Durham, County Durham (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 179 mm
Weight: 84.5 g
Description: An Early Bronze Age copper tanged dagger associated with the Beaker period (2500-2150 BC). The blade, which is triangular in plan, is very thin and flat. The cutting edge is concave and the tip of the knife is rounded and slightly damaged. The tang is flat in section, plain and has hammered flanges.

This dagger is similar to examples found during the excavation of barrows at Mere, Wiltshire and Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire (Gerloff 1975, 28-29 nos. 6-7 Pl. 1).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Found: Cuxton, Medway, Medway (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 64 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Description: Bladed end of a bronze late Bronze Age axehead, probably of socketed type.  The axehead, including the blade, is heavily worn.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , Walsall, Walsall ()
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 65 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Description: Copper Alloy blade-end fragment of palstave, probably Middle Bronze Age. Central rib evident to each surface, both surfaces also pitted. Relatively narrow blade.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2500 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Wigglesworth, Craven, North Yorkshire (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 119 mm
Description: Bronze Age flat axe
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1400 to -1200)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Bardney, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 90 mm
Description: Copper alloy socketed side looped spearhead.  Two elongated socket loops at the side of the shaft, circa 20mm below the wings.  The shaft is broken at the base.  Only the lower part of the wings remain, and they appear to be leaf-shaped.  Side looped spearheads are thought to date to the early to middle Middle Bronze Age, although only a few examples have so far been found in context.  For a detailed discussion of the origin and development of this type of spearhead, please refer to: Rowlands, M.J. 1976 The Organisation of Middle Bronze Age Metalworking, p49; in BAR Vol. 31(i), 1976.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1300 to -1100)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: White Ladies Aston, Wychavon, Worcestershire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 52.2 mm
Thickness: 11.3 mm
Description: In plan the arrowhead has a sub-rhomboid shape. However it is incomplete as the lower portion of the socket is broken and missing. In section the central socted forms a rounded hump which then immediately tapers to teh blade edge. 
     
     The tip of the arrowhead is blunt and rounded. The blade edges are tapered and narrow in depth as the edges splay outwards. The surface is slightly pitted. 
     
     The socket is broken just below the 'rhomboid' corners. The break is not recent, but does not appear to have occurred in antiquity. The patina is slightly different on the break. The socket is 8.5mm in diameter. The socket void is slightly off-centre, therefore the thickness of its walls vary.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Ring (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to POST MEDIEVAL ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Islip, East Northamptonshire, Northamptonshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Diameter: 26 mm
Weight: 4 g
Description: A copper alloy ring. The ring is an irregular circular shape, with an external diameter of 26mm and an internal diameter of 18mm. One surface of the ring is flat, whilst the other is raised.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Chisel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 32 mm
Thickness: 7 mm
Description: "Recorded at Hidden Treasure event at Liverpool Museum" Tip of chisel or tool.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Bucket (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Barley, North Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 50 mm
Thickness: 1.6 mm
Description: Cast, shouldered and tanged object fragment. Decorated in parallel grooves on one face, plain and flat on the other. Tang and shoulder at about 40 degree angle from horizontal. Tang and decorated 'body' ends broken - old breaks. Patinated medium brown-dark green.
Notes: Found in same area as Bronze Age hoard (sword and c.12 socketed axes). Possibly related to Treasure Act 1996. 

Recorded at the BBC Hidden Treasures day at cambridge 11/10/2003.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Found: Wooler, Northumberland, Northumberland (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 40.04 mm
Weight: 34.2 g
Description: Fragment of a late Bronze Age socketed axehead. Both the upper and lower surface of the axehead are very pitted and worn. There is a small worn knob on one of the rectangular edges which is all that remains of the loop.
    A similar example from Haydon Bridge, is on display in the Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Whitchurch Rural, Shropshire, Shropshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 80 mm
Description: Incomplete palstave, butt end damaged and corroded. Incipient stop ridge, flanges extent to cutting edge. 
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Awl (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2000 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lilley, North Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire (Eastern)
Discovery method: Other chance find
Length: 60 mm
Thickness: 4.5 mm
Weight: 9.1 g
Description: One half of the item consists of a flattened tang (ie, it has two wide, flat opposing surfaces and two narrower opposing surfaces) for insertion into a handle. It has a roughly squared distal end and, at its proximal end, where it meets the stem, a hint of a shoulder, to prevent it passing too far into the handle.
    
    The stem is roughly the same length as the tang and tapers gradually to a point. It is sub-circular in section.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , , Essex (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 71.42 mm
Weight: 94.74 g
Description: This Late Bronze Age socketed axe weighs 94.74g, has a length of 71.42mm and a width of 26.86mm. It is subrectangular in plan, having short, straight sides typical of the Shoebury variant of the southeast axe type. The cutting edge of the axe is missing. Instead the axe ends in a semicircular shape that is blunted and very worn. The mouth is subcircular in section, appearing quite ‘squarish’ with an internal diameter of 22.14mm. The collar is broken and the moulding beneath almost rubbed away. The loop is missing and the remaining lugs are similarly very worn down. There is no decoration on the axe. The casting seams are visible on both sides of the axe. The patina is dark green with large areas of dark brown, inside and out. The Shoebury variant is one of the most common southeast axe forms and the eponymous find from Essex (Schmidt and Burgess, 1981, The axes of Scotland and Northern Britain, pages 213-214).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to IRON AGE ( to )
Material: Copper alloy Iron
Found: Ainderby Steeple, Hambleton, North Yorkshire (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Description: Six fragments from at least two Late Bronze Age copper alloy swords. They appear to form part of a metalworkers' hoard. The swords have been deliberately broken into fragments so that they can be easily melted down. One fragment appears to have already been subjected to intense heat and is partially melted. 

    
    There are two large pieces of sword blade. Both are lentoidal in section and have a pronounced line along each cutting edge. One fragment measures 100.78mm  by 31.85mm and is a maximum of 6.29mm thick. The other is 104.2mm by 40.44mm and is a maximum of 6.73mm thick. There are two further sword blade fragments. One measures 73mm by 36.25mm and is 5.83mm thick; the other measures 27.15mm by 36.18mm and is 4.97mm thick.

    
    There are also two fragments of sword handles. The larger of the two fragments measures 63.21mm by 37.84mm and is 3.36mm thick. It has marginal ribs running down its edges and two circular perforations. One is filled with iron corrosion. This suggests that at least this fragment can be dated to the cusp between the Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age (c. 600BC). The other sword handle is more corroded. It is similar in shape and measures 32.98mm by 40.57mm and is 4.71mm thick. The circular rivet hole can be seen on the broken edge of the handle.
    

    A single circular section, copper alloy rivet was found with the fragments of sword. It measures 18.28mm in length and 2.84mm in diameter.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1950 to -1700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Llandow, the Vale of Glamorgan, the Vale of Glamorgan (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 73.6 mm
Thickness: 10.6 mm
Weight: 82.3 g
Description: Small developed flat axe or cast-flanged axe, probably of Class 4E (following Needham forthcoming), corresponding with Schmidt and Burgess' (1981) type Bandon and with Type Derryniggin (Harbison 1969) in Ireland. Axes of these types date towards the end of the Early Bronze Age: Needham's (1996) Period 3 c.1950 - 1700 BC/Needham et al.'s (1997) Willerby phase. The axe appears to have lost the majority of its original surface, and problems in identifying surface detail are further enhanced by a thick coating of glossy varnish applied by the finder. The butt is thin and rounded and both sides are slightly concave and curve outwards to the blade tips to define an expanded blade with a crescentic cutting edge. The flange facets are comparatively low, and define thin-pointed oval.sides. A stop is now only barely discernible on one face, and is positioned approximately mid way along the axe. Blade facets are evident on both faces. No decoration is discernible on any of the faces or sides.
Notes: The axe can be paralleled with a number of similar, but slightly larger axes, found near the findspot (NMGW unpublished records). Within the National Museum of Wales' collections similar examples have been found at Margam, Port Talbot (Savory 1980, No. 122) and Breach Farm, Vale of Glamorgan (Savory 1980, No. 338) associated with a cremation burial recently radiocarbon dated to c.1750-1600 BC.



Class 4E axes are widely distributed across Britain, with examples similar to the Llandow axe known from Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire (Needham 1983, Ca 8, Ca 10, Li 15/2). In Wales, approximately 13 certain or probable Class 4E axes are currently known. Several are decorated (e.g. Llanbradig, Isle of Anglesey NMGW-6152E8), but the majority are undecorated. Comparable examples have been found at Nelson, Caerphilly (NMGW-E6DCD2) and Caerwys, Flintshire (Green 1985, 275, Fig.1).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Casting Waste (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Llangybi, Monmouthshire, Monmouthshire (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 40.5 mm
Thickness: 9.9 mm
Weight: 25.6 g
Description: Bronze casting jet from the production of a South Wales (Stogursey) Type socketed axe of Late Bronze Age date, c. 950-750BC. The casting jet is corroded, but displays the remnants of the characteristic four runners used to produce the South Wales Type axe during the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age. The upper face of the jet is flat, while the lower face is irregular and concave, with the remnants of the four projections. The jet is of irregular oval shape and does not have a central aperture, it is of a light - mid brown colour with very little of the original surface surviving.
Notes: The casting jet was found associated with a ribbed socketed axe blade fragment (NMGWPA 2003.144.1; NMGW-B88605) and is similar in condition and colour to the axe fragment. The four-runner casting technology of the jet may lend further weight to the suggestion that the axe fragment is from a South Wales Type axe. The association of contemporary artefacts suggest the metalwork forms a small hoard deposited during the Late Bronze Age and is therefore likely to constitute Treasure under the revision of the Treasure Act 1996. Four-runner casting jets have recently been identified and recorded in a number of hoard discoveries in South Wales, including the St Nicholas, Cowbridge, and Brigam Farm metalwork hoards. Further recorded examples now in the National Museums & Galleries of Wales Collections have been recovered from St Mellons, Cardiff and the Penwyllt, Ystradgynlais Hoard.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1700 to -1400)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Nettleham, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 93 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Description: Early Bronze Age flat axehead.  The axe has an expanded blade with a crescentic cutting edge.  The tapering shaft sides are rounded, and the object is broken before the butt.  The blade width is 93mm, and the broken butt end measures 30mm in width.
   
   Similar examples have been found at Scunthorpe, South Kyme and from the Witham at Lincoln (Davey 1973, fig.2).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1400 to -900)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Ewerby and Evedon, North Kesteven, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 47 mm
Thickness: 6 mm
Description: Tip fragment of a copper alloy socketed spearhead.  The spearhead is hollow in the centre.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Rapier (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , Cornwall, Cornwall (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 25 mm
Thickness: 6 mm
Weight: 12.4 g
Description: A possible fragment of a copper alloy Bronze Age rapier. The object starts at a width of 21 mm and narrows to a width of 19 mm wide and so would presumably have come from a part of the blade which was fairly close to the stabbing end. The fragment has one flat surface which tapers to an edge on either side, making the item lonzenge shaped in section.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Rapier (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , Cornwall, Cornwall (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 18 mm
Thickness: 5.4 mm
Weight: 7.8 g
Description: A possible fragment of a copper alloy Bronze Age rapier. The object starts at a width of 17 mm and narrows to a width of 16 mm wide and so would presumably have come from a part of the blade which was fairly close to the stabbing end. The fragment has one flat surface which tapers to an edge on either side, making the item lozenge shaped in section.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Wanborough, Swindon, Swindon (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 52 mm
Description: Incomplete spearhead of Greenwell and Brewis’s Rapier type, Class IVa, broken at the top of the loops and about a third of the way along the blade.  The socket is highly accentuated in profile and is quite angular in section, reaching a point.  The wings are very flat in comparison.  Surface is heavily pitted and the blade edges are badly damaged.  Length 52mm
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flanged Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1700 to -1500)
Found: Haydon, Northumberland, Northumberland (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 108.96 mm
Thickness: 13.5 mm
Weight: 196.5 g
Description: An Arreton type bronze flanged axe head; the surfaces of the axe are very corroded but the object is whole. The body of the axe is narrow, measuring a maximum of 30.27mm in width. The body of the axe is marginally flanged on both its upper and lower surface. The blade, measuring 50.56mm in width, expands from the body and is crescentic in shape. The cutting edge is damaged.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Found: Kibworth Beauchamp, Harborough, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 30 mm
Description: A late Bronze Age socketed axe fragment. Only the lower blade is intact. It is 30mm long, 28mm wide at the broken edge, and 40mm wide at the cutting edge. The blade is expanded and there are horizontal scratches and striations indicating that the blade has been re-sharpened. The blade edge is mostly intact,  although there are corrosion chips on it. The axe has a dark patina. 
 

    
    Recorded at the Hidden Treasures roadshow in Market Harborough.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1100 to -950)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Tintern, Monmouthshire, Monmouthshire (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 109.6 mm
Thickness: 30.3 mm
Weight: 199.5 g
Description: 
Complete, but damaged Late Bronze Age plain socketed axe-head. The axe is comparatively long and slender in form. The mouth is somewhat circular, but the socket profile is sub-square and the axe has a sub-rectangular body section. The collar is simple and flared with no mouldings. The mouth-edge surface no longer survives, but the axe was likely to have been cast using a two-runner casting technique. The loop (now broken) is slight and of oval-section, springing from the underside of the collar, and gently arcs back to the side. The sides are straight or slightly concave before they recurve to the blade end. The casting seams are clear on both sides and have been neatly finished, probably by abrasion. The blade end has been damaged, but would have been expanded and curved. Both faces have clear hammered-marks on the lower third of the axe. Sharpening striations running along the blade edge are visible on both faces. One face has many striations running along the length of the axe, but it is unclear if these are deliberate or from antiquity. The axe is in comparatively good condition with a dark green patina, but with areas of damage at the mouth and blade. The top of the axe has a patchy black coating or deposit, possibly tenorite.

Notes: The axe is likely to be an early socketed axe, probably of Wilburton type and metalworking tradition, and dating to c. 1100 - 950BC. Mineralised wood deposits were removed from the socket and retained at NMGW.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1020 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Glyn Tarell, Powys, Powys (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 85.7 mm
Thickness: 41.1 mm
Weight: 168.8 g
Description: Late Bronze Age socketed axe of Ewart Park metalworking tradition (c. 1000-800 BC). The axe is of South Wales (Stogursey) Type and is typical of Ewart Park axe heads found in south east Wales. The axe is comparatively short and squat. The socket is sub-rectangular, within an irregular mouth, clearly showing remnants of all four casting runners. The loop is of lozenge section and begins immediately beneath the simple angled collar moulding. The sides curve gently to a slightly expanded blade, producing a curved blade edge. The casting seams shows signs of finishing, probably by hammering, although they seem unfinished near the top of the axe on the unlooped side. Both faces are decorated with three parallel ribs, which appear high and crisp. The sides of the face have a suggestion of enhancing, possibly to resemble ribs. The blade on the better preserved face shows evidence of hammering and sharpening striations near the blade edge. The blade edge has been lost through damage.
Notes: South Wales axes and variants are prolific in south east Wales with over 120 examples now known as single finds and in hoards. Examples of both complete and damaged socketed axes in hoards within the National Collection of Wales include St.Mellons, Cardiff (Stanton 1984), Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan (Savory 1980, no.281) and Penwyllt, Ystradgynlais, Powys (Savory 1980, no.284).



This example represents a northerly outlier to the main distribution.



South Wales socketed axes and related types belong to the Ewart Park phase of the British Late Bronze Age (Needham 1981, 32-37). Recently, this phase has been radiocarbon dated to 1020-800BC cal (Needham et al. 1997; Needham 1996).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , , Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 72 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Description: Bronze age side looped socketed spearhead, 72mm long and 33mm wide. The object has broken in two where the loops are positioned so these have gone, but the pieces still join together. Some of the original surface is present and the tip looks blunted rather than missing.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Slag (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to IRON AGE (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Flore, Daventry, Northamptonshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Weight: 193 g
Description: A collection of 11 assorted broken copper-alloy items and slag. Six of the items appear to be slag from a copper-alloy smelting process. The further five items seem to relate to a copper-alloy vessel of some type, although they do not all appear to have come from a single vessel.
Notes: These finds were found close to a polishing stone, fragments of Bronze Age axes, and a worked flint, suggesting that this was an area of fairly intensive Bronze Age activity, probably a manufacturing site.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1150 to -900)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Little Abington, South Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 19 mm
Weight: 2.8 g
Description: The extreme tip from a spear with a thick (c6mm) central rib tapering either side into the blade.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Little Abington, South Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 26 mm
Weight: 13.94 g
Description: A blade section. The blade tapers smoothly outwards from a rounded central ridge.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Flore, Daventry, Northamptonshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 27 mm
Thickness: 7.5 mm
Weight: 11.1 g
Description: This item is possibly a fragment of the butt from a copper-alloy Bronze Age palstave axe. The object is convexed at one end, whilst the other end has been broken. The item tapers in thickness from 7.5mm at the broken end to 3mm at the convexed end.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Flore, Daventry, Northamptonshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 32 mm
Thickness: 5.9 mm
Weight: 14.6 g
Description: This copper-alloy item is likely to be a fragment from a Bronze Age socketed axe. The curviture in the item suggests that it may be a fragment from where the axe widens, before actually becoming socketed. There is a ridge at one end of the fragment, perhaps reflecting where the axehead expanded to become a socket for the handle.  
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Found: Flore, Daventry, Northamptonshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 16.5 mm
Thickness: 3.4 mm
Weight: 5.2 g
Description: A fragment of a probable late Bronze Age socketed axe. The curvature suggests that it may be a fragment from where the axe widens, before actually becoming socketed. There is a ridge at one end of the fragment, perhaps reflecting where the axehead expanded to become a socket for the handle. The fragment is very smooth on the interior surface.  
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Weaverham, Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire West and Chester (North West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 128 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Description: Very worn, denuded and pitted with corrosion. Stop ridge present.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Chisel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Flore, Daventry, Northamptonshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 45 mm
Thickness: 6.5 mm
Weight: 5.7 g
Description: A copper-alloy, Bronze Age tanged chisel. The chisel blade is wedge shaped, widening from 9 mm nearest the tang to 12 mm at the tip of the blade. The blade also decreases in thickness, from 4.6 mm nearest the tang to 1.2 mm at the blade's end. The item is thickest where the blade meets the tang, at 6.5 mm, and at this point it is decorated with a thin band which loops the object. The blade is 19 mm in length and the tang is 26 mm long. The tang is cone shaped and narrows to a point at the end where it would have been set within a handle. The item is 45 mm in total length.
Notes: This item was found in an area which has produced evidence of bronze working, along with some fragments of probable Bronze Age axes, a worked flint, and a linen smoother or polishing stone. It is therefore possible that the activity at this site represents a Bronze Age manufacturing process. 
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1100)
Material: Copper alloy 
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 34 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Description: Cast copper alloy tip fragment from a Bronze Age socketed spear head. The tip is lozenge shaped in section with a fairly high mid rib. The blade edges are very worn, however the fragment tapers from circa 17mm at its widest end, to circa 10mm at the other end.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Normandy, Guildford, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 27 mm
Weight: 17.96 g
Description: A bent fragment of sword blade. There is a slight taper to the edges. The central ridge tapers smoothly into the blade edges.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Bracelet (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1400 to -1300)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Langrish, East Hampshire, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Diameter: 85 mm
Description: A complete copper-alloy Liss-type annular bracelet/arm-ring of Rowland's Class D2. Liss-type bracelets are characterised by the form of the incised decoration. This example has at least three, but probably more zones of geometric decoration consisting of zig-zags made up of three or four lines with dotted borders divided by wide bands of cross-hatching. There is a cord motif on the lower edge with a row of dots above it. The bracelet, which has an internal diameter of 60mm, an external diameter of 85mm and a width of 18mm has a sub-triangular section with a convex outer edge and a pointed apex inwards. The surfaces are heavily pitted and much of the decoration is missing. Signs of bronze disease.



Bracelets of this type and other mid-Bronze Age 'ornament horizon' artefacts are not common finds. These bracelets concentrate in the southern counties of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and West Sussex and examples are also known from Suffolk and Norfolk. Incised decorated bracelets form part of a North European tradition, which has led to the suggestion that the examples from southern England may be imported from northern France, although this theory has been questioned (O'Connor 1980). While some of the known bracelets come from hoards containing items such as torcs, pins, axes, palstaves and other mid-Bronze Age artefacts, no other objects were found in association with this example. Published by Sally Worrell in Hampshire Studies (2002, no.1).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2150 to -1500)
Found: Stillington and Whitton, Stockton-on-Tees, Stockton-on-Tees (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 103.8 mm
Thickness: 12.75 mm
Weight: 200 g
Description: An Early Bronze Age bronze flat axe. The axehead is in good condition. It measures 103.8mm in length, 31.03mm in width and has a maximum thickness of 12.75mm.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: East Keal, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 117.28 mm
Thickness: 25.91 mm
Description: A Bronze Age axehead. The surface of the axe is smooth and not pitted. The blade is sharp, with an irregular cutting edge and is almost semi-circular in shape. The body of the axehead has a small vertical rib and rectangular depression. There is a rectangular socket to hold the handle.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Unidentified Object (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to MEDIEVAL ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 22 mm
Thickness: 2 mm
Description: Fragment of unidentified copper alloy object, measuring max 22mm by max 17mm, with no original edges and a thickness of max 2mm. It is decorated with two parallel ribs and the surface is quite pitted. The reverse is smooth but not quite flat. Roman? Bronze Age? Medieval?
Notes: No image has been taken of this record which was made in 2004
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Unidentified Object (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to ROMAN ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 28 mm
Description: Fragment of unidentified and undatable copper alloy object, roughly triangular in shape less one point, creating two parallel sides, the longer of which is slightly curved. The fragment is pierced (2.5mm diam) just beneath the shorter parallel side. Measures max 28mm by max 17mm, with ?no original edges and less than 1mm thick. the fragment has an ancient feel to it. ?Bronze Age ?Roman, or even Medieval.
Notes: No image has been taken of this record which was made in 2004
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Northchapel, Chichester, West Sussex (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 100 mm
Description: An Early Bronze Age flat axe.  The axe is poor condition although a recently-made groove reveals a rich shiny copper beneath the corrosion. Only about 20% of the original surface survives and there is no remaining trace of decoration or of sharpening striations. Also missing is some of the edge profile and the blade. The geology at the findspot is probably acid sandy clay.
Notes: Also handed in for recording were an awl of grey flint and a translucent grey/brown flake, both from the same findspot.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-900 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Bardney, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Other chance find
Description: Bronze socketed axe.  The axe has three ribs descending from the lower of two horizontal mouth mouldings.  Attachment loop at side.  The shaft is slightly concave, and the tip is crescent shaped.   Ewart Park Phase.
Notes: This axe was found in the early 1900's and recorded in Jan. 2004.  The identification was done from the drawings.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Braughing, East Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 26.4 mm
Thickness: 6.6 mm
Weight: 10.83 g
Description: The tip of a copper-alloy spear of Bronze Age date. A ridge runs down the centre of the spear. The surfaces are pitted due to post-depositional erosion. It is difficult to classify, but its width and general form are similar to an example in Salisbury Museum (see reference below). It measures 26.4mm in length, 17.7mm in width and is 6.6mm thick, with a weight of 10.83g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Angle, Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 122.7 mm
Thickness: 26.6 mm
Weight: 309.2 g
Description: Bronze palstave axe dating to the early Middle Bronze Age, and probably of Taunton or Cemmaes metalworking tradition, Needham et al. (1996) Period 5; c. 1500-1150 BC. The palstave is of an early type and is unlooped, and is also without either a shield pattern or a mid-rib on the blade. The palstave would appear to belong to Group III palstaves of Low-Flanged (Broad-Blade) form, the lack of cast blade decoration on this example makes it difficult to categorise to a specific type, but would appear to be dated to c. 1350-1200BC.  
  The palstave is relatively slight, compared to the more massive Acton Park type. The sides are parallel as far as the stop, and then gradually diverge to a slightly expanded blade. The blade edge is gently curved with a long (14mm) blade facet. The blade sides have been pronounced on the upper blade, forming low ribs. The bar stop is straight and meets the flange at a right angle; on the blade side, the stop is near vertical before arcing to the blade face and forming a ‘bar ledge stop’. The flanges are low, as defined by the type, and diverge laterally to a diagonal step before the stop. The butt is eroded, but seems to have had a V-shaped nick. The sides are slightly rounded and convex. The casting seams are discernible but largely eroded. One side appears wider on one half of the mould side than the other. Much of the surface of the palstave has been lost, but survives to a greater extent on one face and appears to have a black patchy coating or patina.
Notes: The palstave is of particular interest because of the unusual absence of cast decoration on the face, and together with the lack of a loop, possibly suggests an earlier date within the type. The relatively sophisticated form and profile however may hint at a slightly later date. Whilst Low-Flanged palstaves are not uncommon finds from the welsh Middle Bronze Age (some 120 recorded examples), a palstave without the characteristic ornament or loop makes the find of archaeological interest and difficult to parallel with known examples.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Strap Fitting (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to IRON AGE (-950 to -500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Grittleton, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 18.1 mm
Diameter: 7.8 mm
Thickness: 3.8 mm
Weight: 4 g
Description: Small cast ring with loop, probably an inner piece from a composite strap fitting of Late Bronze Age date, and probably of Ewart Park (c. 950 - 750 BC) or Llyn Fawr (c. 750 - 500BC) metalworking tradition. The ring is D-shaped with an integral rectangular delicate loop on the straight side. The faces are flat and the external sides are rounded. The interior is faceted, with possible wear facets along the straight side.
Notes: This is likely to represent the inner piece from a composite harness or strap fitting and can be paralleled with examples represented in Late Bronze Age hoards from Parc-Y-Meirch, Denbighshire (Savory, 1980), Welby, Leicestershire (Smith ed., 1957) and a hollow example from Grange-over-Sands, Lancashire (Davey & Forster, 1975). Within the Parc-Y-Meirch hoard there are four similar larger examples. One of the examples (Savory 1980, No. 269:4, 4a) is hollow and fits within a larger ring. Parc-Y-Meich also has an example where the rectangular loop of another ring fits within a slot in a toggle (Savory 1980, No. 271:1-2). The example in the Welby hoard is very similar except that it is approximately twice as large as this example. The Grange-over-Sands piece is a similar size but is hollow.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder