Object: Hoard (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Langford, Maldon, Essex (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Description: Addendum to a previously known hoard find from the same site (ESS-F8865B / 2015 T113), known as the 'Blackwater Hoard'. This assemblage is comprised of 13 separate artefacts, all made of copper-alloy and very likely from the same deposit as the initial hoard and adds to the subsequent addenda found on the site since the initial discovery (ESS-D0E1B5 / 2017 T301).




	

		

			
 

			

			
Description

			

			

			
Dimensions

			

			
 

		

		

			

			
1

			

			

			
Incomplete copper-alloy socketed axe with flared blade edges. Two raised ridges are present on the upper and lower surface and a casting seam can be seen around the entire artefact. The socket rim is thicker and forms a collar around the socket hole. The patina is dark green to dark-brown, with patches of wear and unevenness.

			

			

			
Weight: 81.6g, length: 67.5mm, width: 40.3mm, height: 25.6mm, internal thickness: 1.8mm

			

			
 

		

		

			

			
2

			

			

			
Incomplete copper-alloy socketed axe blade tip. The blade tip is hollow and flares slightly at the edges. A casting seam is visible around the axe. The patina is dark green and worn in places.

			

			

			
Weight: 55.7g,


			
Length: 44.3mm, width: 34.8mm


			
Height: 18.0mm


			
Internal thickness:3.1mm

			

			
 

		

		

			

			
3

			

			

			
Fragment of a Later Bronze Age copper-alloy palstave or short-flanged axe. The fragment is from the butt portion of the axe and shows flanges that curve slightly inward on one edge. The cross section, if both flanges were intact, would be 'H'- shaped. There is a casting seam running down the centre of the remaining flange. The patina is dark green though the surface is heavily worn.

			

			

			
Weight: 70.2g,


			
Length: 68.3mm, width: 29.9mm,


			
Butt thickness: 6.8mm,


			
Flange width: 29.5mm, flange thickness: 4.1mm

			

			
 

		

		

			

			
4

			

			

			
Rectangular shaped fragment of copper-alloy, likely the side-wall of a large socketed axe. The patina is a light green and the surface is heavily eroded and worn.

			

			

			
Weight: 51.9g, length: 36.8mm, width: 37.5mm, thickness: 9.2mm

			

			
 

		

		

			

			
5

			

			

			
Fragment of a copper-alloy socketed axe. The fastening loop and part of the socket rim remains. The socket rim is thicker and forms a collar around the socket hole. There is also a moulded ridge delineating the socket rim portion from the rest of the butt, which ends just before the fastening loop. The patina is mostly light green with wear and abrasion particularly around the socket rim.

			

			

			
Weight: 21.7g, length: 41.8mm, width: 27.3mm, internal thickness: 3.8mm

			

			
 

		

		

			

			
6

			

			

			
Fragment of a copper-alloy socketed axe. Part of the fastening loop is still present, though much of the rim and butt portion are missing. There are at least three grooves present on the remaining surface of the butt. The patina is a dark green, and though worn in some places, is generally smooth

			

			

			
Weight: 14.3g, length: 34.4mm, width: 28.4mm, internal thickness: 3.2mm

			

			
 

		

		

			

			
7

			

			

			
Fragment of a rim portion from the butt of a copper-alloy socketed axe. There is a raised moulded ridge starting approx. 18mm from the socket rim edge. The patina is dark green and worn in places.

			

			

			
Weight: 11.1g, length: 24.3mm, width: 26.9mm, internal thickness: 3.5mm

			

			
 

		

		

			

			
8

			

			

			
Sub-rectangular copper-alloy sheet with three riveted holes spaced approximately 5.6-5.8mm apart from one another. It is likely that this item (along with no 9) forms part of a fitting, possibly a pommel fitting. There is one straight unbroken edge, and a curving edge which shows evidence of breakage on one side. The underside is worn and slightly concave, curving inward closer to the edges. The upper surface is smooth with a dark green patina. It was considered that this could be part of the shaft of a socketed knife, but the straight edge and the relative thinness of the artefact would suggest a plate fitting function, rather than being a fragment of a cylindrical item.

			

			

			
Weight: 3.4mm, length: 31.5mm, width: 14.0mm, thickness: 1.3mm, diameter of rivet holes: 2.8mm

			

			
 

		

		

			

			
9

			

			

			
Sub-rectangular copper-alloy sheet (similar to no 8). Like the above this item features an unbroken straight edge, the ends of which are connected to a curving edge. The edge of this item is slightly more damaged than that of no 8. There are three rivet holes, also spaced approx. 5.6 - 5.8mm apart from one another. It seems likely that this artefact was used in conjunction with number 8, probably as part of a pommel fitting. The underside is slightly concave and the surface is worn. The upper surface is smooth and has a dark green patina.

			

			

			
Weight: 3.1g, length: 33.8mm, width: 15.3mm, thickness: 1.0mm, diameter of rivet holes: 2.8mm

			

			
 

		

		

			

			
10

			

			

			
Copper-alloy blade tip, probably of a late Bronze Age rapier. The item is pointed oval in section, and tapers to a thin point. The opposite end terminated in a straight fracture. There is no evidence of a mid or side ribs on the blade tip. The patina is dark green and smooth.

			

			

			
Weight: 8.4g, length: 44.2mm, width: 12.2mm, thickness: 3.5mm

			

			
 

		

		

			

			
11

			

			

			
Fragment of a copper-alloy socketed axe. This is a small, sub-triangular shaped fragment of part of the socket rim portion of a socketed axe. The rim edge is the thickest part.

			

			

			
Weight: 5.6g, length: 17.1mm, width: 19.4mm, thickness (of rim): 5.3mm, internal thickness: 2.6mm

			

			
 

		

		

			

			
12

			

			

			
Copper-alloy socketed gouge or chisel of Late Bronze Age date. The tool is rounded at the butt portion though a rectangular shaped section is still visible, particularly when viewing the inside of the artefact. At the butt end the corners are much more rounded. Tapering toward the chisel point, the corners of the rectangular shaped tool become much more defined. The wider sides taper to a sharp triangular point, which meet the terminal of the shorter sides perpendicularly, forming a straight edge, creating a wedge like, sharp terminal. The socket rim is slightly flared and thicker on the edge. The external patina is dark green and generally smooth.

			

			

			
Weight: 32.6mm, length: 74.6mm, width (at rim): 16.1mm, thickness (at rim): 16.0mm, width (mid-section): 9.0mm, thickness (mid-section): 11.3mm

			

			
 

		

		

			

			
13

			

			

			
Copper-alloy casting waste. The surface is heavily abraded and worn

			

			

			
Weight: 1.2g, length: 18.6mm, width: 9.8mm, thickness: 5.3mm

			

			
 

		

	





All of the artefact exhibit features known to be present in later Bronze Age metal work hoard assemblages. Given the context of the finds, it is highly likely that they are part of the same deposit as the previously reported artefacts belonging to the 'Blackwater Hoard' and its subsequent addenda.
Notes: As the items are very likely part of a previously reported and declared hoard of Treasure items, these artefacts, too, should be considered Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996. They also qualify as Treasure in their own right, as a hoard or assemblage composed of two or more items of prehistoric date and of base metal composition. Verdict subject to Coroner's Inquest



Report by: Sophie Flynn, Essex FLO, 29.01.2019
Subsequent action: Donated to museum after being declared Treasure