dejp3/bronze-age-objects-pas huggingface dataset:
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Found: Whitegate and Marton, Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire West and Chester (North West)
Discovery method: Fieldwalking
Length: 90.21 mm
Thickness: 5.47 mm
Weight: 209.5 g
Description: Bronze Age socketed axe. Ewart Park Type, Class B, dating to c.1000-800BC.

It is complete with the loop remaining. It has some corrosion on the surface, particularly around the cutting edge of the blade. In plan the axe is roughly rectangular, in cross section it is triangular as it narrows to the blade.

There is a slight collar at the top of the axe. At the base of the collar 3 ribs start on each side and run about 1/3 of the way down the axe. The loop starts at the same level and finishes just before the ribs. 

Casting lines can be seen on both edges running from top to bottom. They do not appear to have been smoothed out at all. The mouth is sub-square and has 2 casting sprues on the edge. The blade is slightly expanded but some of it is missing due to wear and corrosion. 

The axe has a greenish patina which is not even due to the corrosion. The corrosion is a light green and is worst around the cutting edge of the blade and the mouth.
Object: Razor (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: North Dalton, East Riding of Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 36.28 mm
Thickness: 2.46 mm
Weight: 3.2 g
Description: A cast copper-alloy Piggott class 1 razor of the Bronze Age.

The razor is leaf-shaped in plan with a square-ended tang.  There is a slight mid-rib from the base of the razor the disappears as it approaches the tip.  There is no perforation on the tang.
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Wem Rural, Shropshire, Shropshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 106 mm
Thickness: 37 mm
Weight: 175 g
Description: This is an interesting example of an Iron Age Socketed Axehead in copper alloy from cica 750 – 600 BC.  In style, it fits with the characteristics of the Sompting type and the Llyn Fawr Phase.  The axe is wedge shaped in both plan and profile view, with an ovoid socket.  There is a marked single strengthening collar to the mouth of the socket with the attachment loop being just below that collar, on the side seam of the axe. 

There are pronounced moulding seams running from the mouth to the blade tips on each side.  The blade tips are slightly flared.  There is also a slight ‘chamfer', noticeable to each corner from the socket mouth, tapering down toward the blade.

The overall condition of the axe is poor, with considerable loss of the original surface, that which is left has a dull brown patina.  One side of the axe has been damaged and split, presumably in antiquity, that damage reveals how thin the walls of this axe are.  The apparent fragility of this moulding might explain the lightness of this axe at just 175 gms.

Another interesting feature of this axe is the internal moulding, which extends into the flare of the axe head.  That in turn, might suggest the possibility of reducing the metal content to a minimum, in conjunction with the thin walls.  Could this type of manufacture, with its lack of overall mass, indicate a more 'votive' aspect, than a practical tool?
Object: Rapier (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Marazion, Cornwall, Cornwall (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 56.6 mm
Thickness: 5 mm
Weight: 22.18 g
Description: Cast copper alloy fragment of a rapier, rectangular in plan and lozenge-shaped in profile and section, with a raised mid-rib on both faces. The ribs are now worn almost flat and the surface is heavily pitted and corroded so that very little surface patina survives. The cutting edges of the fragment are also jagged and damaged. The fragment may date from the Middle Bronze Age, but to be sure of its date, it will need more metallurgical analysis.

Rohl and Needham (1998) illustrate some similar rapiers with broad mid-ribs on page 132, Fig.34, Nos.189-190, which are group IV rapiers, and date from the Penard phase of metalwork, c.1300-1150 BC.

Pearce (1983) illustrates a flat-ribbed rapier from Crediton on page 662, Plate 101, No.219d, which dates from the Acton Park phase, c.1500-1400 BC; and a worn triple arris rapier on page 663, Plate 102, No.298a, which dates from the Taunton phase, c.1400-1300 BC.
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -800)
Found: West Felton, Shropshire, Shropshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 34 mm
Weight: 14.3 g
Description: Fragment of a Bronze Age sword or spear dating to c. 1500- 800BC.

It has an oval cross section. The fragment is close to the end as the lower part is widening towards the handle. It has a brownish patina and some of the original surface has been lost through corrosion.
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1200 to -800)
Found: West Felton, Shropshire, Shropshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 78 mm
Thickness: 5 mm
Weight: 178.4 g
Description: Cast copper alloy socketed Bronze Age axe dating from c.1200-800BC.

It is mostly complete with the side loop remaining. The blade is angular, possibly due to wear/breakage. It has a square cross-section with a raised collar at the mouth. The surface is worn and so it is not possible to tell how many ribs there were. There is a casting seam on the side where the loop is. There are also 2 casting seams visible on the inside of the axe. 

It has a green/brown patina with patches of orange which may indicate there was iron buried nearby.
Object: Dirk (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1700 to -1300)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Snape with Thorp, Hambleton, North Yorkshire (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 171.2 mm
Thickness: 3.94 mm
Weight: 110 g
Description: A cast copper-alloy dirk from the Bronze Age with two rivets. The rapier is an elongated lozenge in section with a midrib running its length. In plan, the rapier is narrow and tapering with a wide shoulder. The top of the butt has been broken off. There are two incomplete rivet perforations in the butt/shoulder. Both rivets are present and are circular in section with expanded dome heads on either side.
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1400 to -1300)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Aylesbeare, East Devon, Devon (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 129 mm
Description: Bronze Age palstave of Taunton metalworking tradition dating to the Middle Bronze Age (c.1400-1300 BC). The rear part of the axe (57mm length; 26mm width; 9mm thickness)is sub-rectangular in plan and sub-rectangular in profile, with the thickest part (31mm thickness)immediately behind the stop ridge. The blade (72mm length; 34mm width; 13mm thickness)is sub-triangular in profile. In plan, the blade is sub-rectangular and gently splays towards the cutting edge. As the blade is broken, it may well have splayed more towards the cutting edge. A central ridge runs from the stop ridge along the length of blade. The side loop has broken off, but it is possible to see traces of where it once was. A similar axe, found together with other Bronze Age items by workmen in 1879 at Sherford, Devon, is illustrated in Pearce 'The Bronze Age Metal Work of South Western Britain'(please see reference for details). Although Pearce's example splays more towards the cutting edge, the rectangular plan of the butt; straight stop ridge; central ridge on the blade; and the profile are all similar to this example.
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: REIGATE, Reigate and Banstead, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 24.46 mm
Thickness: 6.03 mm
Weight: 16.19 g
Description: A fragment from the blade of a sword of mid- to late-Bronze Age date. The fragment has smooth well-preserved surfaces but the blade edges have been very worn post deposition.
Object: Dirk (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1700 to -1300)
Found: , , Northumberland (North East)
Discovery method: Other chance find
Length: 218 mm
Thickness: 5.21 mm
Weight: 136.1 g
Description: A cast bronze dirk of the middle Bronze Age.

The dirk is incomplete, with breakage at the butt, obscuring the number of perforations for rivets, of which only one is clear.

In section, the dirk is lozenge shaped.  The blade has a central midrib that is more pronounced on one face than the other.  From the shoulder, the blade edges taper slightly until a distance of 40-50mm from the tip, when the edge angles more sharply to the tip.

The slight irregularities of the edges and asymmetry of the edges closest to the tip indicate that the dirk was resharpened on a number of occasions.
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lechlade, Cotswold, Gloucestershire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 17.4 mm
Thickness: 1.7 mm
Weight: 2.04 g
Description: Fragment of Late Bronze Age decorated spearhead socket (probably). The fragment is curving in profile and would have originally been c.23mm in diameter. It measures 17.4x13.6x1.7mm and weighs 2.04g.

The fragment is decorated to the outwardly curving side only, with two bands of a pair of grooved lines.

To the reverse the metal is not smooth, possibly through corrosion.

The two longer edges are jagged and are clear breaks. However the two shorter edges both seem to be original, which would suggest the object is no a spearhead. Possibly, patination has ocurred over the break, as is visible on part of the more jagged edge.

The orangey-dark brown colour of the metal and the decoration suggest a Middle/ Late Bronze date. If not a spear head this is possibly some kind of decorative ring, although I can find no parallels.
Object: Awl (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Barkby Thorpe, Charnwood, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 10.4 mm
Thickness: 1.1 mm
Weight: 5.7 g
Description: Bronze Age copper alloy awl. The object measures 10.4 mm in length, 1mm in width, 1.1mm thick and weighs 5.7 grams. It has a central rectangular section from which point it tapers and becomes circular in section finishing in a point at each end.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Awl (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Barkby Thorpe, Charnwood, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 7.8 mm
Thickness: 1 mm
Weight: 3.76 g
Description: bronze age copper alloy awl. Measurers 7.8 mm in lengh, 1mm in width and 1mm thick. Object weighs 3.76 grams. the object is rectangular in section and tapers to a point
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Frisby on the Wreake, Melton, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 23 mm
Thickness: 6 mm
Weight: 10.27 g
Description: Bronze age copper alloy Ewart Park sword blade fragment, 23mm long, 16mm wide and 6mm thick. The object is in fair condition with a green patina and weighs 10.27grams. The object has a lozenge shaped section which is 6mm wide in the centre and tapers steeply to 1mm at its edge. It has one good edge but the rest is quite worn.
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Found: Chollerton, Northumberland, Northumberland (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 43.92 mm
Thickness: 13.18 mm
Weight: 54 g
Description: 
A fragment of a cast copper-alloy axe of the Bronze Age.






Only the edge and end of the body remain.  There is some outward expansion from the break of the body to the edge, but this is not dramatic.  The edge is very worn.






In section, the end of the hollow cavity of the axe is visible, with a honeycomb effect.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Casting Waste (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-3250 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Frisby on the Wreake, Melton, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 27 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight: 23.49 g
Description: Bronze age copper alloy casting sprue, measuring 27mm long, 23mm wide, 18mm thick and weighs 23.49 grams. The Object is in fair condition with a green patina. The object is sub spherical in form with a flattened upper surface and a tapering projection created by pouring the metal into a mould.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Blade (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-3250 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Frisby on the Wreake, Melton, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 17 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 3.29 g
Description: Bronze age copper alloy implement, measuring 17mm long, 14mm wide, 3mm thick, and weighs 3.29 grams. The object is in poor condition with a brown patina and some corrosion. The object is sub rectangular in form with two smooth edges and two jagged. It may be a fragment of a blade or possibly part of an axe?
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-950 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Kenilworth, Warwick, Warwickshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 98.9 mm
Weight: 183.8 g
Description: A complete cast copper-alloy socketed axehead dating from the late bronze age. In plan, the axe has concave sides, a convex cutting edge and a mouth with a rounded collar with a single moulding below it. The end of the mouth is not flat; there are two crests at about the central point on either face. There is a loop on the haft end of one side of the body. When viewed in profile, the axe can be seen to be broadly triangular in shape, with the front and reverse faces being slightly convex. The mouth of the axe is sub-square with rounded corners, almost circular, although towards the cutting edge the socket and the axe are rectangular in section. The socket extends approximately 62mm into the axe. There is a plug of earth within the socket which can be freely removed. Two ridges run down the upper portion of the socket, at about the centre of the front and reverse of the axe. A casting seam runs down both sides of the axe. There are some slightly raised areas on the surface of the axe with a lustrous smooth brown patina. But generally the axe has a slightly pitted brown surface, with a few small areas where green corrosion products are visible. There are transverse grooves/striations and some crazing visible on the surface of the lower blade, particularly on one face of the axe. There is a slight depression on both faces on the body of the axe. The cutting edge is complete and remains sharp. There is a small amount of recent damage on the collar and edge of one face where the surface has been removed revealing the yellow/gold colour of the metal. The axe is in excellent condition overall. The axe is 98.9mm long. The cutting edge is 39.8mm wide and the mouth is 36.6mm from side to side, and 35.3mmm from front to back (maximum external dimensions). The axe has a mass of 183.8g excluding the plug of soil in the socket. The axe recorded here is similar to south-eastern socketed axes identified by Scmidt and Burgess (1981, p. 212-6, and plate 85), particularly axes 1275-1279 which are Variant Bilton (described as Variant Worthing on Plate 85). Schmidt and Burgess (ibid, p. 212) comment that the south-eastern type of socketed axehead is, "...characterized by a fairly slender, square to rectangular-sectioned body with a squarish mouth." They explain that Variant Bilston/Worthing axes have long bodies with concave sides curving to an unexpanded cutting edge, and a mouth where a rounded collar has a single moulding set below it (ibid., p.214). South-eastern axes appear to date from the Ewart Park Phase (Ibid. p.216-7) and, "...may not have survived much into the Llyfawr period". (ibid. p.217). The Ewart Park phase is dated from circa 900 to 700 BC.
Object: Spearhead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1400)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Great Ouseburn, Harrogate, North Yorkshire (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 63.8 mm
Thickness: 7.9 mm
Weight: 22.56 g
Description: The tip only of a copper alloy spear dating from the Middle Bronze Age, circa 1500-1400BC. The fragment is triangular with a sharp point at the tip. It is 63.8mm long, 27mm wide and 7.9mm thick. There is a central ridge along the blade which is slightly rounded. The section is thus a vertical oval with tapering side flanges rather than a lozenge shape. Near the break there are grooves on the central ridge forming an arrow pointing towards the tip. These are on both sides. These mouldings are quite unusual. Similar decoration is known on some Bronze Age and Iron Age transition pieces. An example with similar mouldings is from the Melksham Hoard and is held by Devizes Museum, but a middle Bronze Age date is considered to be the most likely for this example.. The broken end does not have a good a patina as the rest of the object, but the break does not seem to be recent. The rest of the object has a glossy golden brown patina with a few pits of corrosion. A similar example recorded on the database is LANCUM-37A3C5.
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1300 to -1100)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: East Kirkby, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 80.58 mm
Thickness: 12.17 mm
Weight: 33.9 g
Description: A fragment of a copper alloy leaf-shaped socketed spearhead, probably from the Penard phase (1300 - 1100 BC). The fragment has round-section midrib which tapers towards the tip. The base of the spearhead is missing.
Object: Unidentified Object (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to POST MEDIEVAL (-1000 to 1650)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Utterby, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 25 mm
Diameter: 9 mm
Thickness: 2 mm
Description: Fragment of a copper alloy unidentified object.  The fragment is flat and has a slightly faceted edge similar to the wing of a Bronze Age spear or sword.  The faceted edge appears to be original.  In plan the object is roughly trapezoidal.
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: BEDWORTH, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Warwickshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 79.7 mm
Thickness: 9.9 mm
Description: Bronze axe of Arreton Down type.  Expanded cutting edge, now asymmetrical; there are indications of small raised flanges down each side of the blade.  It is likely that these were raised by hammering and not cast.  The blade tapers, from its mid-point, towards both the cutting edge and butt.  Most of the surface has been lost to corrosion but enough survives to show that the faces of the axe were not decorated. c. 1800 - 1400 BC.
Object: Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2500 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Ropley, East Hampshire, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 37 mm
Thickness: 5.2 mm
Weight: 6.91 g
Description: A probable Bronze Age cast copper-alloy blade fragment of an axehead. Part of the blade tip and cutting edge remains. The object is highly corroded. It is largely a light, dusty green colour. The fragment is largely undiagnostic and so a date is hard to achieve. The fragment may have belonged to a flat axe, a palstave or a socketed axe and so its date of manufacture could range from anywhere between c. 2500 BC (with the introduction of bronze flat axes) and c. 700 BC.
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2150 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Ravenstone and Packington, North West Leicestershire, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 85 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Description: Early Bronze age copper alloy flanged axe, C. 85mm long, 65mm wide at the tip and 10mm thick. The object is in fair condition with a greenish patina. It has a semi-circular flared blade and a rectangular shaped and sectioned body which tapers gently in thickness from a central point.g body. There are slight recesses on each face at the butt end, which produce the slightest of flanges.
Notes: 
Object not seen, photographed by finder
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Adwick, Doncaster, Doncaster (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 22.9 mm
Thickness: 3.5 mm
Weight: 6.72 g
Description: A copper alloy fragment probably of a Late Bronze Age sword which is 22.9mm long, 19.3mm wide and 3.5mm thick. The blade is lentoid in section tapering to a point at each side. Both ends are broken and the damage is not recent. The fragment is possibly part of the Wilburton or Ewart Park metalwork assemblage tradition and dates to c. 1150-800BC but the fragment is too small to be certain of this. The surface is slightly pitted and has a light brown patina.
Object: Spearhead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -801)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Berry Pomeroy, South Hams, Devon (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 49 mm
Weight: 19.52 g
Description: An incomplete copper-alloy spearhead, dating from the Mid to Late Bronze Age (c.1500-801 BC).



Damaged at both ends, the remaining part of the socket is of truncated conical form, with a single peg hole.  The remains of the leaf-shaped blade project outwards on either side of the socket, beginning approximately two thirds of the way up.



Length: 49mm; width of blades: 28mm; diameter of shaft at bottom of fragment: 20mm; shaft 1.65mm thickness.
Object: Strap Fitting (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-950 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Harrietsham, Maidstone, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 57.3 mm
Thickness: 2.2 mm
Weight: 39.7 g
Description: A Later Bronze Age cast copper alloy tubular 'bugle-shaped' fitting with a hollow gently barrel-shaped body with a sharply-expanded terminal at one end. The other end of the body terminates in an old break. This body is 57.1mm in length, the diameter of the expanded terminals is 13mm.Protruding form one side of the body is a tubular side loop which is 36.5mm long, 6.8mm wide and 7.8mm thick. There is a line on the body surrounding the loop, suggesting that the loop could have been cast on separately. The loop extends 4.8mm form the body. On the opposite side of the body there is a sub oval slot, 24.3mm long and 6.9mm wide. There are signs of ware around the edges of the slot. Over all the fitting is 57.3mm long and weighs 39.7g    Bugle-shaped objects are though to comprise a strap fitting for the scabbards of swaord, though their precise function remains obscure. It is possible that thin leather straps were passed though the narrow slot. Refer to other pieces in the collection at the Museum of London (Acc nos A11947-8; A15467; A19001). Also find LON-CA5354 on the database.
Object: Awl (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: West Clandon, Guildford, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 73.78 mm
Thickness: 3.41 mm
Weight: 5.29 g
Description: A possible Bronze Age awl with a square-sectioned centre tapering to a rectangular section.  It is bent in the centre and the tip is missing.
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-900 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: GUILDFORD, Guildford, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 35.53 mm
Thickness: 9.82 mm
Weight: 32.64 g
Description: The blade of a socketed axe with one corner missing.  There are impact marks on both sides with transverse grooves just below the break on one side.  There is the possibility that it was deliberately broken.
Object: Chisel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1300 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Crondall, Hart, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 57.57 mm
Thickness: 4.08 mm
Weight: 10.82 g
Description: A chisel with a rounded blade tapering into a rectangular sectioned tang.  Little of the original surface remains.
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Found: West Lavington, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 25.7 mm
Thickness: 5.4 mm
Weight: 4.38 g
Description: Fragment of Middle to Late Bronze Age bronze socketed spearhead, consisting of the very tip only. It measures 25.7mm in length and is a lozenge shape in section. It weighs 4.38g.

The midrib occupies much of the fragment, there surviving only 1.5mm in width the edge beyond. The midrib is damaged to one side, showing possibly the very end of the socket.

At the break, the fragment is 12mm wide and 5.4mm thick. The tip narrows to the very end, which is 3mm thick.
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1800 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Richmond, Richmondshire, North Yorkshire (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 89.91 mm
Thickness: 3.67 mm
Weight: 32.4 g
Description: A blade fragment of a cast copper-alloy sword of Middle-Late Bronze Age date, probably Late Bronze Age. The blade is a flattened pointed oval in section, and sub-rectangular in plan. One end is rounded while the other end displays evidence of breakage; it also flares out slightly at this end.  The surface is slightly pitted and abraded in places.



Length: 89.91 mm; Width: 23.85 mm; Thickness: 3.67 mm; Weight: 32.4 g



The sword may belong to the Ewart Park phase (D. Boughton pers. comm. 01/2020)
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Stixwould and Woodhall, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 104 mm
Diameter: 24 mm
Description: Complete copper alloy socketed axehead.  The socket of the axehead has eight facets to it and a loop at the top next to the opening. The opening of the socket has a lip around the circumference.  The two side facets widen to form the sides of the blade.  The blade is curved, worn and extends on either side beyond the line of the socket.  
Notes: Reported at the Stixwould Rally, 5-7th Sept 2008.
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1100 to -900)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Paull, East Riding of Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 143 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight: 324 g
Description: Late Bronze Age copper alloy palstave, 143mm long, 43mm wide and 29mm thick. The object is in fair condition with a green patina and weighs 324 grams. The Palstave is complete, the shaft end, which is 26mm wide, has a recess taking up just under half of its length (61mm). It has a complete curved blade, 43mm wide. It has a wide central rib which tapers, running the length of the blade and has one semi-circular loop. The object was found on the edge of the Humber estuary and has sustained water damage.
Notes: Identification report 009 completed 29/03/90 at Hull Museum.
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2150 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Swithland, Charnwood, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 80 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight: 115 g
Description: Early Bronze Age copper alloy flanged axe, 80mm long, 41mm wide and 13mm thick. The object is in fair condition with a brown patina and weighs 115 grams. The axe has a rounded blade which is slightly damaged, showing signs of prolonged use. It has a shaft which is rectangular in form and section, with slightly raised edges and a squared butt.
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Thurlestone, South Hams, Devon (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Description: 
Bronze Age cast copper alloy spearhead. Socketed spear head and blade tip of mid to late Bronze Age date. The edge has been bevelled, demonstrating that it has been resharpened. In section, the spearhaed is lozenge in shape. The rest of the spear is missing.

Notes: 
The finder has generously donated this artefact to Cookworthy Museum, Devon.

Subsequent action: Donated to a museum
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Stixwould and Woodhall, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 142 mm
Description: Middle-Late Bronze Age copper alloy palstave. The palstave is of the developed type which has a stop ridge that forms in line with the side of the axe, and a loop that sits in the middle of the axe at the top. The recessed areas of the butt meet the sides with a slight curve. The butt slightly tapers to a worn and incomplete terminal. The blade edge appears to be very worn.



The width of the blade is 37mm; the width of the butt is 23mm.
Notes: Found at the Stixwould rally, 5-7th Sept 2008.
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to MODERN (-1200 to -1000)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Stixwould and Woodhall, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 154 mm
Description: Middle Bronzr Age palstave.  The axe is slender and has a very pitted and worn surface.  The there is a lip on either edge of the axe, and a stop ridge down the centre of the axe. The butt end is damaged. The blade is flared and appears to have been reground a number of times in antiquity.
Notes: Found at the Stixwould rally, 5-7th Sept 2008.
Object: Pin (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lockinge, Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 89.94 mm
Weight: 5.11 g
Description: A complete copper alloy Bronze Age disc-headed pin.  The head is is a flat circular disc decorated on the upper surface with radiating incised lines.  The shaft of the pin is circular in section tapering to a point, maximum diameter 3.09mm. Date circa 2000-800 BC.  Mid-green patina  Dimensions: length 89.84mm; diameter of head 13.81mm; weight 5.11g
Notes: Found during Weekend Wanderers Chain Hill Rally 17 August 2008
Object: Unidentified Object (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to MEDIEVAL (-1500 to 1499)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Stixwould and Woodhall, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 29 mm
Description: Copper alloy unidentified object.  The object is a concave 'boat-shaped' piece of bronze with an incomplete shank at one end.  The surface is very worn and pitted.  The object may be a worn Roman duck brooch, an escutcheon or perhaps a piece of casting sprue.
Notes: Reported at the Stixwould rally, 5th-9th Sept 2008.
Object: Unidentified Object (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to MODERN (-1000 to 1900)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Broughton, Test Valley, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 21.9 mm
Thickness: 4.95 mm
Weight: 7.875 g
Description: A cast copper-alloy discoidal of uncertain function and date.  Both faces are slightly convex. In cross-section it is lozengiform with truncated sides.  There is a regular central depression on both faces.  Above this is a perforation, rectangular in shape with rounded end (L.: 5.0mm).  The dating of this object is difficult, although it bears a certain similarity to an artefact illustrated in Read (2001, 63; ref. 488) and described as an impractical 'terret-like object'.  This suggests a date in the Iron Age or Roman periods.  However, an earlier date cannot be ruled out; neither can a late one as suggested by the regularity of the object.
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Stixwould and Woodhall, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Description: Late Bronze Age copper alloy sword, in four pieces and complete apart from the terminal of the hilt.  The sword belongs to the Ewert Park phase.

The hilt is slender and has a lozenge shaped guard with a ribbed perimeter and a small oval hole at either side. The hilt is oval in cross-section and is missing its terminal. 

The edges of the hilt taper and curve down to the blade proper. The blade is a pointed oval in cross-section. The edges of the blade are worn. 

The blade narrows shortly after the hilt and then widens towards the tip.  The tip rapidly tapers to a blunt point.

The sword has been broken in to four pieces in antiquity. The hilt is one fragment, the tip is another, and the main blade is broken in to two pieces. The hilt and the tip sections have a darker brown patina whereas the two fragments of the main blade have a lighter green patina.
Notes: Found at the Stixwould Rally, 5-7th Sept 2008.
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Boxley, Maidstone, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 105.9 mm
Thickness: 5.2 mm
Weight: 181.7 g
Description: A Middle Bronze Age midribbed palstave axe, cast in bronze. It is 105.9mm in length. The blade is 42.1mm from tip to tip and is 60.0mm in length. The palstave has a wide blade, with a single medial raised rib running down the centre on both faces. The blade starts parallel at the top and then expands progressively towards the convex cutting edge. The cutting edge and tips are all badly worn and corroded. The tips proper have almost certainly been removed due to this wear. The butt end of the axe is roughly rectangular in section with prominent flanges on either face. The butt end is otherwise undecorated. Casting lines can still be seen on both flange sides. For similar example see Norfolk Museum Service (1977) Bronze Age Metalwork, fig 13.
Object: Metal Working Debris (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to POST MEDIEVAL (-1200 to 1699)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lechlade, Cotswold, Gloucestershire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 44 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight: 99.88 g
Description: Possibly Late Bronze Age or Medieval - Post Medieval bronze/ copper alloy metal working debris.

The fragment measures 44mm in length and is 33mm wide, 27mm in height and weighs 99.88g.  It forms a rough pyramid in shape and has a number of green residual spots on the base and around the bottom edge.  The remainder has a brown/grey residue.
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Wicken, East Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 93.99 mm
Weight: 71.36 g
Description: Bronze Age lugged and socketed copper alloy spear head.

Length:93.99mm, width: 33.12mm, weight: 71.36g.
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1700 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Holme Valley, Kirklees, Kirklees (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 68.59 mm
Thickness: 13.65 mm
Weight: 174.91 g
Description: An incomplete copper alloy Bronze Age axehead. It would have originally tapered off to a thinner butt. The blade is significantly flared, however the shape of the side flanges cannot be determined due to the break. It measures 68.59mm x 58.76mm x 13.65mm, weighing 174.91g. The axe seems to fall into class IV of Needham's chronology. It may possibly belong to the Arreton group; dating from circa 1700-1500BC (S. Needham, 2004, unpublished), though with only the blade to work from it is difficult to assign a confident date. The surface of the axe is green, pitted and corroded, with a glossy patina surviving in a few places. The break is also patinated.
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Micheldever, Winchester, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 66.1 mm
Weight: 101.5 g
Description: A cast copper-alloy fragment, plausibly from an Early Bronze Age flat axe. The fragment is broadly trapezoidal in shape.  It is rectangular in cross-section, with sides that are triangular in profile.  They narrow from a thickness of 9.7mm at the break to c. 1.5mm at the terminal.  The terminal is slightly rounded.  The artefact is highly corroded with considerable pitting and a highly variable colour. This possibility remains that it might be an ingot.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (1500 to 800)
Material: Copper alloy Ceramic
Found: CORRINGHAM, Thurrock, Thurrock (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 37.02 mm
Thickness: 9.47 mm
Weight: 13.87 g
Description: Fragment of a Bronze Age copper alloy spear head, probably Middle to Late periods (1500-800 BC). The fragment consists of the tip of a cast copper alloy spear head. The blade wings and cutting edges of the spear are broken, and the fragment is badly worn with signs of corrosion disease. The clay core used to manufacture the spear is visible at the distal end of the fragment and measures 0.24mm in diameter. The spear head tip has a light olive-green patina.

Dimensions: length: 37.02mm; width: 19.33mm; thickness: 9.47mm; weight: 13.87g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Kings Somborne, Test Valley, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 23.7 mm
Thickness: 5.5 mm
Weight: 5.28 g
Description: A highly corroded cast copper-alloy tip from the blade of a Bronze Age axehead.  The fragment has a sub-triangular cross-section.  It is difficult to discern any socket so a wide mid-late Bronze Age date is suggested for this highly pitted artefact.
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-900 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Rotherwick, Hart, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 44.86 mm
Weight: 19.23 g
Description: A cast copper alloy fragment, possibly from a Late Bronze Age axe of socketed form though this must remain doubtful. The fragment is from the body of the axe and parts of three sides survive.
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1400 to -1300)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , , Dorset (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 86.13 mm
Thickness: 25.09 mm
Weight: 159.75 g
Description: A small copper alloy unlooped palstave axe with a very short, flared blade. The cutting edge is crescentic. The axe is undecorated. There is a faint casting ridge along the centre of the sides of the flanges. The flanges are high, with the tops on one side being somewhat more worn and re-shaped than the other side. The blade is somewhat truncated compared to most axes of this type and the axe is smaller than usual overall. It has a rich blackish patina, although the parts of the surface are pitted and some of the edges are damaged. The palstave belongs to the Taunton phase of metalworking. Dr Kevin Leahy has noted that this axe is unusual in the ratio between the blade and the septum, which are usually of almost equal length (pers comm, 2008) Date: early Middle Bronze Age, c. 1400 - 1300 BC) (Pers comm, D. Boughton, 2008) Dimensions: 86.13 mm x 35.56 mm x 25.09 mm Weight: 159.75 g
Object: Spearhead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1550 to -1250)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Tickhill, Doncaster, Doncaster (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 139.2 mm
Thickness: 21.5 mm
Weight: 125.4 g
Description: A cast copper alloy socketed spearhead with one loop missing, and dating from the Middle Bronze Age, about 1550 - 1250 BC. Davis Group 6, 'developed side looped'. The surviving loop is a projecting shallow arch through which string or cord would pass to attach the spear head to the shaft. The blade is leaf shaped with a sub-lozenge shaped midrib section with a groove on each side of the rib. The midrib extends to the tip of the narrow blade. The spear head has had a small notch taken out of one edge at the mid point. This was done during removal from the ground. The spear head is suffering from active bronze disease.
Notes: 
Recorded at a rally

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-800 to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Tickhill, Doncaster, Doncaster (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 32.2 mm
Thickness: 14.1 mm
Weight: 65.5 g
Description: A fragment of a late Bronze Age socketed axe. The end of the blade and the socket survive. The fracture is ancient and the core is mis-placed and off-centre. Needham (2004) suggests Ewart Park types are similar to this example, dating it to around 800BC. The fragment is 32.2mm long, 43.7mm wide and 14.1 mm thick. It weighs 65.5gm.
Notes: 
Recorded at a rally

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1100 to -700)
Found: Lechlade, Cotswold, Gloucestershire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 13.7 mm
Thickness: 2 mm
Weight: 1.49 g
Description: Fragment of possible Late Bronze Age socketed axehead with rib decoration, measuring 13.7x13.3x2mm and weighing 1.49g.

Late Bronze Age socketed axeheads are c.1100 to c.700 in date.
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1300)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: West Wratting, South Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 106.14 mm
Thickness: 11.28 mm
Weight: 118.19 g
Description: Middle Bronze Age copper-alloy Palstave with prominent stop-ridge and bisected shield design.

Length: 106.14mm; width: 41.71mm; thickness: 11.28mm; weight: 118.19g.
Object: Awl (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Woodford, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 55.3 mm
Thickness: 5.4 mm
Weight: 8.5 g
Description: Incomplete Bronze Age copper alloy awl (probably), consisting of the tang end only. It measures 55.3mm in incomplete length and at the break is 6.7mm wide and 5.4mm thick. This narrows to 5x1.5mm at the opposite end.

The metal is ratehr pitted and worn and a slight ridge (probably the result of casting) runs along either long side towards one face of the awl only. This is rather more prominent towards the break.

Weighs 8.5g.
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1300)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: CAMBRIDGE, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 96.78 mm
Thickness: 8.34 mm
Weight: 95.66 g
Description: A middle Bronze Age copper alloy spear head with a small head, wide shaft socket and semi-circular loops.

The head of the spear has a pronounced central ridge running along its length. The wide shaft socket is missing a small section from its base.

The patina of the metal is poor. It has most likely come from an iron rich soil and is covered with a layer of iron corrosion products. It is possible to see the copper alloy-surface beneath this in places.

Length: 96.78mm, width: 32.44mm (blade) 35.81mm (loops); thickness: 8.34mm (blade); weight: 95.66g.
Object: Razor (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to ROMAN (-1150 to 400)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 32.2 mm
Thickness: 2.2 mm
Weight: 6.82 g
Description: Incomplete/ fragment of copper alloy possible razor, Late Bronze Age, Iron Age or possibly Roman in date.

The object is roughly rectangular in shape, but broken on three edges. The complete long edge is chamfered (2.2mm to 1.1mm thick), on one face only. The opposite face is completely flat.

A nick in one of the shorter edges is probably the result of damage rather than the vestiges of decoration.

Measures 32.2x19.5x(max)2.2mm and weighs 6.82g.
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1300 to -800)
Found: Buttercrambe with Bossall, Ryedale, North Yorkshire (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 18.5 mm
Thickness: 6 mm
Weight: 2.4 g
Description: Fragment of a Bronze Age spear, dating from the Penard to Ewart phases, c. 1300-800 BC.

Only the very tip remains. It has a central raised mid-rib. The edges are broken and uneven and the tip has been blunted.
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1700 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Hursley, Winchester, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 107.1 mm
Thickness: 16.6 mm
Weight: 207 g
Description: A virtually complete cast copper-alloy flat axehead of Early Bronze Age date.  This flanged example is characteristic of the Arreton Park metalwork assemblage.  The blade terminates in a wide, crescentic curved cutting edge.  One of the terminals of this curves to a sharp point while the other is abraded.  Bevelling to create the edge is shallow, beginning just below the line of the terminals.  The flanged sides give the artefact a pointed oval cross section.  They feature flange facets in profile.  They are up to 16.5mm thick, and rise up above the septum by c. 3.5mm at the crests.  The curved butt is slightly abraded (W.: 21.6mm).  Where it survives the patina is a dark green colour.  Otherwise the axe has suffered corrosion, in lighter hues, and more active damage which is a brighter green.
Object: Knife (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -850)
Found: Urchfont, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 73.4 mm
Thickness: 1.8 mm
Weight: 16.81 g
Description: Incomplete Late Bronze Age tanged knife, bent in two places and damaged around the tang. It weighs 16.81g.

The rounded point of the knife is apparantly intact, 8mm wide. It widens, one side being straighter than the other (which has a slight curve) over c.120mm (un-bent). It narrows at the tang to 17.4mm wide (from max.width 19.4mm), and probably further beyond this but edge damage prevents an accurate measurment. At this point is a piercing 5.3mm in diameter, clearly pushed through from one side - it shows on the other with a jagged edge.

The knife has a central mid-rib on one side (being the side with the jagged edge of the hole). It tends to follow the line of the straighter edge of the knife and slightly off-centre. On the other side, the underside of the mid-rib is concave.

The edges of the knife are slightly jagged and also quite thick - 1.8mm in places, compared to 1.2mm at the tang.

The knife has been bent just above the mid-point and just over 90°. Beyond this the tang is also bent at circa 90°, so it is parallel with the lower, unbent part of the knife.

Tanged knives of this type date to the Wilburton phase (LBA2) and into the Ewart Park phase (LBA3), 1000 - 850 BC.

The bent knife measures 73.4x19.2x1.8mm.
Object: Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1600 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Askerswell, West Dorset, Dorset (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 121.27 mm
Thickness: 11.32 mm
Weight: 256 g
Description: Cast copper alloy flat axehead. The axe has very slight low flanges on both faces. There is a casting ridge along each side. The axe thins and flares out into a broad cutting edge which is slightly bevelled on both faces. It thins and tapers in the other direction to a rounded butt. The body of the axe is slightly thicker to at the centre than it is at the ends. The surface of the axe has several patches of light green corrosion and damage to the cutting edge, sides and butt. The rest of the surface has a smooth, dark green patina. This flanged example is characteristic of the Arreton Park metalwork assemblage (Kevin Leahy, pers. comm). Date: Early Bronze Age - 16th century BC Dimensions: 121.27 mm x 60.47 mm x 11.32 mm Weight: 256 g