dejp3/bronze-age-objects-pas huggingface dataset:
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Damerham, New Forest, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 35 mm
Thickness: 2 mm
Weight: 23.96 g
Description: Fragment of Late Bronze Age copper alloy socketed axehead, consisting of part of the rim and side of the axe, including the loop. The breaks are quite jagged; probably not ancient.
The axe has a double mouth moulding, the upper of which is far more prominent. The lower appears (on this fragment) to be a continuation of the line where the loop meets the body of the axe.
The casting seam is visible but not jagged. It stands less than 0.5mm high.
The patina is smooth and green.
35x32x2mm. Weighs 23.96g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Stretton, East Staffordshire, Staffordshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Other chance find
Length: 25.83 mm
Thickness: 10.88 mm
Weight: 20.97 g
Description: Fragment of copper alloy palstave axe. The hafting end of the palstave remains. It is slightly tapering in width and wedge shaped in profile. There are raised ridges on the top and bottom surfaces along each side for about half of the remaining length. Dimensions: 25.83mm x 23.83mm x 10.88mm
Notes: PAL2145. From paper record
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lenham, Maidstone, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 102.11 mm
Thickness: 40.18 mm
Description: Complete bronze looped and socketed axehead, South Eastern Type A. Sub-circular mouth with double mouth moulding, with a small perforation just below the moulding on one side. It is unclear if the latter is a result of miscasting or damage. Considerable casting flash survives along most of the length of both sides and on the loop, but it has mostly been removed towards the blade. The blade is not widely expanded and the blade tip is missing on one side. There are many very fine transverse lines close to the blade edge. The surviving blade edge is heavily corrosion chipped. Dark green patina with some damage to surface, probably from plough. Forms part of a hoard of Late Bronze Age metalwork, probably deposited circa 1000 to 800 BC.
Notes: Lenham Station Hoard no.1
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lenham, Maidstone, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 76.04 mm
Thickness: 22.42 mm
Weight: 107.77 g
Description: Incomplete bronze socketed axehead. Only the lower half survives, with a worn and irregular transverse break across the socket.  The body of the axe narrows just below the break. There are blade tip hollows and the blade is expanded. Most of the blade edge and both tips are missing, and the edge and surface around the blade is heavily corrosion chipped. The casting flash has mostly been removed. There are many fine transverse lines across one face of the axe only.  Mixed light to brown-green patina.  Forms part of a hoard of Late Bronze Age metalwork, probably deposited circa 1000 to 800 BC.
Notes: Lenham Station Hoard no.2
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lenham, Maidstone, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 36.28 mm
Thickness: 38.52 mm
Weight: 92.7 g
Description: Fragment of a bronze socketed axehead, South Eastern Type A.  Sub-rectangular mouth with double moulding. A short length of the socket and most of loop survive only.  Even, worn transverse break across body probably occurred in antiquity.  Some casting flashes are present along both sides.  Green and green-brown patina.  Forms part of a hoard of Late Bronze Age metalwork, probably deposited circa 1000 to 800 BC.
Notes: Lenham Station Hoard no.3
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lenham, Maidstone, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 27.97 mm
Thickness: 10.72 mm
Weight: 35.99 g
Description: A fagment of a bronze socketed axehead. Only the blade end is present and none of the socket remains. The blade is expanded and there are blade tip hollows. Most of the blade edge is intact, although with some corrosion chipping. The transverse break just above blade tips is worn. There are many very fine transverse lines close to the blade edge on both faces.  Mixed green and brown patina.  Forms part of a hoard of Late Bronze Age metalwork, probably deposited circa 1000 to 800 BC.
Notes: Lenham Station hoard no.4
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Ingot (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lenham, Maidstone, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Description: 18 cast copper 'bun' ingot fragments, of varying thickness, weight and condition.  9 fragments appear to be plano-convex edge fragments from the edge of the bun, albeit they do not appear to be from the same bun.  Found together with 4 copper alloy socketed axeheads, KENT-8CF725, KENT-8D44F3, KENT-8D53D7 and KENT-8D80E4, these represent finds 5-22 from a dispersed hoard of Late Bronze Age metalwork, probably deposited circa 1000-800 BC.  Individual ingot details as follows: 5. Plano-convex edge fragment (Th: 23.25mm, Wt: ???g). 6. Plano-conves edge fragment (Th: 25.32mm, Wt: ???g). 7. Plano-convex edge fragment (Th: 26.78mm, Wt: ???g). 8. Ingot fragment (Th: 23.32mm, Wt: 99.48g). 9. Possible plano-convex edge fragment (Th: 27.93mm, Wt: 91.66g). 10. Ingot fragment (Th: 20.10mm, Wt: 100.12g). 11. Ingot fragment (Th: 18.30mm, Wt: 56.26g). 12. Ingot fragment (Th: 21.04mm, Wt: 102.39g).  13. Plano-convex edge fragment (Th: 22.46mm, 154.63g).  14. Plano-convex edge fragment (Th: 14.84mm, Wt: 80.48g). 15. Plano-convex edge fragment (Th: 21.11mm, Wt: 89.95g). 16. Plano-convex edge fragment (Th: 25.26mm, Wt: ???g). 17. Ingot fragment (Th: 16.84mm, Wt: 31.25g). 18. Plano-convex edge fragment (Th: 23.58mm, Wt: 99.29g). 19. Ingot fragment (Th: 19.13mm, Wt: 87.09g). 20. Ingot fragment (Th: 14.38mm, Wt: 106.15g). 21. Ingot fragment (Th: 28.87mm, Wt: ???g). 22. Ingot fragment (Th:13.33mm, Wt: 9.45g).
Notes: Lenham Station Hoard nos. 5-22
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Arrowhead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1275 to -1140)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Hadstock, Uttlesford, Essex (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 39.76 mm
Thickness: 2.56 mm
Weight: 5.1 g
Description: A rare and important find for Essex of an almost complete Bronze Age bronze arrowhead. Cast in one piece, this arrowhead is barbed and tanged in form, with the two sides forming an angle of approximately 35 degrees. It is 39.76mm long, 19.82mm wide from barb to barb, 2.56mm thick and weighs 5.10g. The extreme end of the point is missing and the barbs are damaged and truncated. The tang, which is complete and rectangular in plan is 7.8mm and the barbs are 3.48mm and 2.38mm long respectively. The arrowhead has a low mid ridge, making the object bevelled on one face and so gives it a triangular section. Much of the original surface survives with a dark green patina, but it is heavily scratched and pitted. The exposed surfaces are mid green in colour. There is one small patch of bright green corrosion to one side of the longer tang.


There is only one bronze arrowhead from a secure Bronze Age context in Britain and that was in the Penard hoard, first reported in Archaeologica 71, page 138. The Penard arrowhead has a mid rib as opposed to ridge, but is still barbed and tanged. At the time of its discovery it was a unique find in Britain and was presumed to be an import as there are numerous finds of bronze arrowheads recorded from Northern France.


However, thanks to an increase in the number of reported metal detected finds, Bronze Age bronze arrowheads are now growing in number, though they remain a rare group of artefact. Dr Colin Pendleton reports that Suffolk has 17 known examples, of which 5 can be termed barbed and tanged. Norfolk has at least 4 recorded and more examples are being added to the database from around the country. This suggests that bronze arrowheads were also a British tradition.


The arrowhead reported here is the first known from Essex and as such is an important discovery for the county, as well as adding to the growing British corpus. Though the barbed and tanged form was used in flint from the Early Bronze Age to the Middle Bronze Age, the evidence from Penard, which dates from 1275-1140 BC, suggests that copper alloy arrowheads did not come into fashion until later in the Middle Bronze Age. Therefore this is the suggested date range for this arrowhead.


Thanks are extended to Dr Stuart Needham of the British Museum for his opinion on this artefact.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1400 to -1300)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Teddesley Hay, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 87.1 mm
Thickness: 30.5 mm
Weight: 197.41 g
Description: An incomplete cast bronze axehead (length: 87.1mm; width: 37mm; thickness: 30.5mm; weight: 197.41g).  The butt of the axe has been broken and is badly corroded with some small areas of bronze disease.  The septum's length from the butt to the stop of the axe measures 66mm (as well as a width of 19mm), with low flanges measuring between 5-7mm in height either side.  The blade end of the axe has broken off 21mm after the stop, but this is far enough to notice a central rib running down its length on both sides, leading to what would have been the blade. The flange side is triangular in shape with a loop protruding outwards by 7.2mm level to where the stop is.  Overall, this incomplete axehead is in a fair but corroded condition in some areas, particularly  at the butt, flange facets and beyond the stop.  It is difficult to identify the true colour and patina of the axehead and the artefact has been coated in a substance, but it seems to have a patchy brown/ black patina with various areas of bronze disease.


This axehead seems to have similarities with other examples identified as from the Taunton industries, so called because of an especially rich series of finds that was made in the Vale of Taunton, dating from approximately 1400-1300 BC (Rohl & Needham, 1998, page 119, figure 21).  According to Pearce (1984, page 24), side loops became a regular feature in the later part of the Middle Bronze Age palstave industries, and the ribbed decoration was still popular from earlier examples.  A similar example of a ribbed palstave is illustrated in Pearce's book (Page 25, Fig 8a, Ref A) and was found at Cemmaes, Powys.


Many other examples are illustrated in Watson's 'Catalogue of British & European Prehistoric Metalwork in Birmingham City Museums', 1993, Ref Nos 47-51 among the illustrated plates.  All these are classsified as Burgess group IIIa and have been found from Barton Green, Warwickshire; Middleton, Staffordshire; Berry Mound, Worcestershire; Britain: no provenance; Britain: no provenance respectively.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Mountsorrel, Charnwood, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 58 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 135 g
Description: Bronze age copper alloy palstave, 58mm long 39mm wide at tip. The object weighs 135 grams and has a green/brown patina with parts of the surface missing. The palstave is broken off cleanly and at this point it is 24mm wide and 17mm thick. The object tapers down to the tip at which point it is 3mm thick and the blade splays slightly to give it a 39mm width.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1150 to -800)
Found: Winterbourne Steepleton, West Dorset, Dorset (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 27.91 mm
Thickness: 35.52 mm
Weight: 31.08 g
Description: Fragment of bronze axe. Blade end only of a socketed axe. Slightly flaring cutting edge. Casting ridge along each side. Elliptical cross section and socket.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Mountsorrel, Charnwood, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 40 mm
Thickness: 4 mm
Weight: 65 g
Description: Bronze age copper alloy axe, 40mm long 30-35mm wide and 4-12mm thick. The object represents the tip of the axe, which widens from 30mm to 35mm at the blade. It weighs 65 grams and has a brownish/green patina. It tapers in thickness from 17mm at the broken end to 3mm at the tip.  This is probably part of a mid bronze age straight sided, intrusive? axe.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1150 to -800)
Found: Winterbourne Steepleton, West Dorset, Dorset (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 71.04 mm
Thickness: 18.52 mm
Weight: 97.34 g
Description: Incomplete bronze axe. Narrow socketed axe with slightly flaring cutting edge. Butt of the axe missing. Casting ridge along each side. Rectangular cross section and socket. There is a raised cast V motif on both faces of the axe. Stuart Needham identified this as an unusual feature on a socketed axe.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Found: North Stoke, Bath and North East Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 53.4 mm
Thickness: 19.51 mm
Weight: 141.29 g
Description: Fragment of a bronze socketed axe dating from the late Bronze Age. The cutting edge and part of the body only. The blade is slightly expanded tapering back towards the hafting end. It is asymmetrical and convex around the blade edge. It has a rectangular sectioned socket whereby the walls vary slightly in thickness. The side walls are about equal in thickness. The walls of the two faces are thinner but are about twice as thick as the sides.  At the sides externally are longitudinal casting flashes. The axe has a good surface condition and has not been excessively cleaned. Dimensions: side 5.46mm, side 6.02mm. Front 5.50mm, back 7.68mm.
Notes: PAL2144. From paper record
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Chagford, West Devon, Devon (South West)
Discovery method: Building work
Length: 127 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight: 466 g
Description: Socketed axe head, made of cast copper alloy. Sompting type.            It has a prominent bulbous collar below which is horizontal moulding. The upper body is narrow at the sides (measuring 26mm) and diverges to an expanded cutting edge (measuring 70 mm) that forms into a splayed, elongated wedge-shape.              The loop is broad with its upper end merging with the horizontal moulding, and the lower end slightly splayed out extending to the edges of the side.               It is decorated on both sides with four pairs of ribs, each rib ending at a ring.
Notes: 
Thanks to John Allan, Nick Bennellick, Helena Jaeschke, Mark Lodwick, Stuart Needham and Julien Parsons for their contributions for this record.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flanged Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2000 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Willoughby with Sloothby, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 99 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight: 96.66 g
Description: Copper alloy flanged axe.  The butt is straight and has two nicks in it.  On just above the centre is modern, and the other just below the butt corner is well patinated and ancient.  The flanges are 50mm in length and have slightly inward turned crests.  The flange sides are 16mm at their widest point.  The surface of the septums are smoother than that of the blade, and have a dark brown even patina with sporadic patches of active bright green corrosion.  The blade edges curve outwards to form a crescentric cutting edge, 33mm wide.  The blade is 7mm in width at the flange ends tapering to 0.4mm at the cutting edge.  Both sides of the blade are covered with fairly extensive patches of brown patina.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Razor (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , , Warwickshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 107.9 mm
Thickness: 2.9 mm
Weight: 28.16 g
Description: A Late Bronze Age copper-alloy leaf-shaped razor. The razor has a leaf-shaped blade with the side edges forming the cutting edges. There is a slight central mid-rib on one face, running the length of the blade. Usually this mid-rib is quite prominent, but this is not the case on this example. In profile, the blade is bent at one tip at 45 °. Protruding from one tip is an integral rectangular sectioned tang. The tang tapers and the tip is curled. The surface of the razor is just developing a slight green/brown coloured patina. One face has more patina on the surface than the other, but there is no active corrosion. The razor measures 107.9mm long, 33.2mm wide and the thickness of the tang is 2.9mm. It weighs 28.16g. 

Bronze Age razors were first classified by Hodges (1956) as Class IV, a possibly derivative of Class I.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2000 to -1700)
Found: Mapperton, West Dorset, Dorset (South West)
Discovery method: Agricultural or drainage work
Length: 72.74 mm
Thickness: 9.07 mm
Weight: 137.01 g
Description: An incomplete cast and hammered copper alloy low flanged axe of Early Bronze Age date. A small developed axe type. It has an asymmetrical hammered crescentic blade and the butt is missing. There is a slight hammered flange along each side, front and back. There are several transverse ridges on the axe from hammering it into shape. Dimensions 72.74mm x 63.41mm x 9.07mm, weight 137.01g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Rochford, Rochford, Essex (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 20.04 mm
Thickness: 11.02 mm
Weight: 18.03 g
Description: Fragment of a copper alloy Late Bronze Age socketed axe. This fragment represents part of the expanded blade end of the axe. It is trapezoidal in plan and wedge shaped in profile. The original cutting edge no longer exists and the blade tips are heavily worn. There is a ‘V’ shaped depression in the broad end of the fragment that is subrectangular when viewed in plan, which represents the very end of the socket. The axe surface is heavily abraded and pitted. The original surface of the axe only survives in small patches and is dark brown in patina. The subsequently exposed surface is bright green, with areas of deeper pitting being yellowy in colour. The depression has a light brown patina to its sides. The fragment survives in generally poor condition. The fragment is 20.04mm long, 35.3mm wide, 11.02mm thick at the broad end and weighs 18.03g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -900)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Wethersfield, Braintree, Essex (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 145.06 mm
Diameter: 18.78 mm
Thickness: 10.72 mm
Weight: 72.75 g
Description: Complete, cast copper alloy Middle Bronze Age, side looped, spearhead. This spearhead has a narrow leaf shaped blade with a lozenge shaped section. The shaft is circular in section and socketed. To either side of the shaft, halfway along its length, is a lozenge or leaf shaped side loop, both of which are slightly flattened against the shaft. There is no peg hole on the shaft. The casting seams are not visible, except for a raised but smoothed seam of metal above one of the side loops. The original surface is mostly intact and has a mid brown patina. The object has suffered damage in a variety of forms. The surface is pitted and scratched, notable at the blade tip and along the mid rib. The edges of the blade are chipped. There is a subsquare nick at the mouth of the socket that has caused two cracks to run up the shaft to just below one of the side loops, and a triangular nick that has not resulted in cracking. There is also a sub oval hole running from one of the side loops. These signs of damage are worn smooth and evenly patinated suggesting that they occurred in antiquity. However there is a large amount of scratching to the object surface, which may be the result of more modern damage, possibly over harsh cleaning. There are also two grooves on the object that are shiny bronze in colour that are definitely due to recent damage.



The socket of the spearhead is blocked with compacted soil, as are the side loops. Under microscopic inspection there are traces of a fibrous material that may be leather or heavily decayed wood, but not enough survives to get a positive identification. The soil is probably compacted due to the post depositional environment. Because of this blockage, it is not known how far the socket extends into the shaft. The spearhead is 145.06mm long, of which 54.34mm is the shaft, 28.56mm at the widest point of the blade and 10.72mm thick at the mid rib. The socket mouth has a diameter of 18.78mm. The side loops are 18mm long and the bottom of the loop begins 20.78mm from the end of the shaft. The object weighs 72.75g. A parallel for this spearhead can be seen in Ehrenberg, 1977 number 25. Ehrenberg comments that spearheads of this type date from the Middle Bronze Age period, but it is thought those with the flattened side loops continued into the later Bronze Age.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Hanslope, Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 28 mm
Weight: 26.2 g
Description: Fragment of the butt end of a Bronze Age flanged or palstave axe. The object is copper-alloy and is 28 mm long and 24 mm wide. The axe is flanged in profile, with a ridge on each edge of the axe on the obverse and reverse, making the axe appear like a capital I on its side in profile. These ridges are to allow the axe handle to be slotted into the axe before being secured with a twine binding. The break is worn smooth and the axe was evidently broken in antiquity. The axe dates from around 2500 BC to 1200 BC.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Chisel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Arlington, Wealden, East Sussex (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 46.92 mm
Thickness: 12.67 mm
Weight: 31.84 g
Description: An incomplete small axe or more likely an axe-chisel, cast from copper alloy. The surviving portion is wedge shaped, with rectangular faces which are almost straight when seen from the side, and that meet to form a curving blade edge that appears to have had little secondary bevel. The sides, when looking at the face, are slightly concave along the length, curving outwards to the blade. The middle of the blade edge has broken off in the past, but appears once to have a narrow curve of maybe 120°, with no flaring of the tips; the rounded tips are 19.31m apart. The hollow interior is cone-shaped. The artefact has a sub-rectangular cross-section with walls between 2.06mm and 4.34mm thick. The artefact has been broken off at the end, but it appears that part of the butt is still present: if this is correct then the artefact was once around 47-50mm in length. There is a casting seam running along one face. There is no decoration on the artefact, suggesting an everyday rather than ceremonial purpose. The artefact is very worn, with heavy corrosion, although some of the original smooth surface survives (around 40%), with a light greenish-grey colour. The rest has a mottled, greenish-grey colour, and a very pitted texture. All the evidence points towards this being a tool for carving wood- that is for ornamental carving. The round blade edge would make it versatile, enabling the carver to work with a concave area, and the bevel of the whole tool- at around 20°, makes it ideal for very fine work where thin slivers of wood are being removed. This is a fine ¾ inch chisel. The fact that it is cast with an integral socket (for the wooden handle it once had) suggests a Middle- Late Bronze Age date.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Arrowhead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1800 to -700)
Found: Hammerwich, Lichfield, Staffordshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 51.4 mm
Thickness: 10.3 mm
Weight: 16.05 g
Description: A cast bronze arrowhead, possibly dating to the late Bronze Age between c. 1800-700 BC (length: 51.4mm; width: 15.8mm; thickness: 10.3mm; diameter of socket: 11.1mm; weight: 16.05g).  Even though the artefact is badly corroded and broken at tip and socket, the fairly prominent midrib with blade wings are still visible.  The artefact has a circular socketed shaft which is open into the hollow cavity of the head.  As well as general amounts of corrosion, there is a significant amount of bronze disease present in the bottom of the hollow shaft.  There is also a small hole along the line of the midrib halfway down the blade.  The possible arrowhead has a dark green/ brown patina.

Bronze arrowheads dating to this period are extremely rare in Britain, with one found as part of a hoard in Penard, Wales (Savory, 1980, oage 57) as well as possible arrowheads found on the Isle of Portland, Sussex, Yorkshire, Montgomeryshire and another on display in Norwich Museum.  Bronze arrowheads seem to appear more regularly in France where they were first manufactured in the Middle Bronze Age, in the Paris basin and the west-central area (Savory, page 57).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Stillington and Whitton, Stockton-on-Tees, Stockton-on-Tees (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 45 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight: 49.4 g
Description: A small Bronze Age axehead. The axehead is wedge shaped in section. The cutting edge is curved. The attachment end is flat and without flanges. The surface of the axe is extremely corroded and pitted. It possesses a green patina. The axehead is 45mm in length; the cutting edge has a width of 34mm; the attachment end has a thickness of 23mm.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1200 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Brasted, Sevenoaks, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 29.9 mm
Thickness: 9.62 mm
Description: Fragment of Bronze Age copper alloy socketed spearhead. 
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Mount (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to IRON AGE (-2000 to 43)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Chartham, Canterbury, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 27.22 mm
Diameter: 27.22 mm
Thickness: 12.42 mm
Weight: 12.7 g
Description: Copper alloy fitting, comprising a circular convex dome, with a transverse round-sectioned shank on the reverse.  The patination and condition of the object is suggestive of a prehistoric date.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1200)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Crondall, Hart, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 19 mm
Weight: 14.5 g
Description: A fragment comprising the upper part of a palstave axe.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Chisel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1200)
Found: Crondall, Hart, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 74 mm
Thickness: 4 mm
Weight: 13.3 g
Description: A Middle Bronze Age tanged chisel. The chisel has a spatulate terminal which tapers into a rectangular-section tang. In side view the chisel is thickest in the centre.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1200)
Found: Crondall, Hart, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 160 mm
Thickness: 4 mm
Weight: 31.9 g
Description: The point of a rapier blade. The blade has been cut down to act, presumably, as a knife. There is a pair of notches on either side of the butt end which may have aided the fixing into a haft.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spearhead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1450 to -1050)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Swynnerton, Stafford, Staffordshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 52.8 mm
Diameter: 13.7 mm
Weight: 13.81 g
Description: A cast fragment of a copper alloy spearhead (length: 52.8mm; largest diameter at the probable shaft end: 13.7mm; smallest diameter at the blade end: 10.6mm; weight: 13.81g). Only this fragment of the socket remains with irregular breaks at both ends as well as a high degree of corrosion. On either side of the socket, the humped remains of two side loops are still visible. They are also of irregular size as one appears larger than the other (width: 5.9mm x 4.2mm).



There is a similar example illustrated in Watson's 'Catalogue of British & European Prehistoric Metal in Birmingham City Museums', 1993, page 11, ref no 87, found in Kingsbury, Warwickshire. There are other examples in Susan M. Pearce's publication 'The Bronze Age Metalwork of South Western Britain', Part ii, 1983, found in numerous areas, but most notably Hambledon Hill, Hod Hill, Cheddar, near Blandford Camp and near Glastonbury. H. N. Savory in 'Guide Catalogue of the Bronze Age Collections', 1980, pages 49-51, adds that 'side-looped' spearheads were heavily produced in local North Wales industries with loops further up the socket in comparison with previous examples as well as having leaf-shaped blades. These spearheads were also popular in southern England.



This example may have had a short stabbing blade (mostly likely to date to the Middle Bronze Age I between c. 1450-1250 BC) or a longer weapon (mostly likely to date to the Middle Bronze Age II period between c. 1250-1050 BC).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1450 to -700)
Found: Boylestone, Derbyshire Dales, Derbyshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 108.9 mm
Thickness: 20.1 mm
Weight: 200.53 g
Description: An incomplete cast bronze palstave axehead (length: 108.9mm; width at blade: 32.2mm; width at opposite septum end: 20.5mm; thickness at flange side: 20.1mm; weight: 200.53g).  With only a small part of the septum, butt and some of the side loop missing, the axehead is otherwise complete, even though it is in a very badly corroded state.  The flanges to either side of the septum are very slight (possibly also due to corrosion), as is the stop.  There are remains of one side loop positioned at the stop.  The blade is rather chunky in form without any indentations or ridges beyond the stop.  The blade tip and cutting end only spans slightly.  The general condition of the axehead is poor and corroded with only a few patches of the original dark green patina left near the stop and around the centre of the artefact.

H. N. Savory (in 'Guide Catalogue of the Bronze Age Collections' [National Museum of Wales], 1980, page 46) adds that the transition to the general use of loops to help fastening the handles of axe-heads occurred at about the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age (c. 1250 BC) in Wales as well as in southern England with influences from the Continent.

This axehead dates between 1450-700 BC.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE ( to )
Found: St. Mary's, Bexley, Greater London Authority (London)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 46 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Weight: 42.8 g
Description: Middle to late Bronze Age. Copper alloy, broken and damaged fragment, roughly rectangular with a vesica shaped cross-section, probably from a sword or dagger. Dark green patina but also surface corrosion especially round the edges.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2500 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Eccleshall, Stafford, Staffordshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 30.8 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight: 72.61 g
Description: A cast bronze blade fragment of a probable palstave (or flat) axehead (length: 30.8mm; width at blade tip: 54.8mm; thickness: 11mm; weight: 72.61g).  The fragment is broken (probably in antiquity) in a roughly straight line  after the blade has curved inwards from the blade tip.  The artefact is in a worn but fair condition with some areas of the original patina remaining which is dark brown in colour.


Flat and palstave axes were produced in this country from the Early-Late Bronze Age period (c. 2500-700 BC), with flat axes manufactured at the beginning and progressing into palstave axes.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2500 to -700)
Found: Linkenholt, Test Valley, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 26.1 mm
Thickness: 7.3 mm
Weight: 24.32 g
Description: A cast bronze broken blade fragment of a flat or palstave axehead (length: 26.1mm, width: 37.1mm; thickness: 7.3mm; weight: 24.32g).  Most of the blade tip and cutting edge remains and does not curve round at the edges.  One of the blade sides is intact until the break, but most of the blade side opposite has been broken at a slant down to near the blade tip.  The artefact is in a worn but fair condition with only small traces of the original patina surviving.  The surface of the axehead fragment is dark grey in colour.

Flat axes appear in the Early Bronze Age (c. 2500-1400 BC) and then progress into the manufacture of palstave axes which mostly appear in the Middle Bronze Age (c. 2500-1400 BC), but still continue in use into the Later Bronze Age (c. 1400-700 BC).  It is difficult to determine which type of axe this blade fragment belongs to.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Found: Newport, Telford and Wrekin, Telford and Wrekin (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 35 mm
Thickness: 14.4 mm
Weight: 73.57 g
Description: A cast bronze blade fragment of a Bronze Age socketed axehead (length: 35mm; width at blade tip: 52mm; thickness: 14.4mm; weight: 73.57g).  With only the lower part of the body and blade edge surviving, it is impossible to classify this socketed axehead to a particular type.  The hollow inside of the artefact is present.  The break probably happened in antiquity and occurs across the width of the axehead in a roughly straight line.  The artefact is in a worn and poor condition with some areas of bronze disease, particularly along the break and inside the hollow cavity.  No remains of the original patina survive and the surface has a variety of colours, mainly orange and light green.

Socketed axeheads represent a change in the method of hafting and production (by hollow casting), particularly in comparison with the earlier flat and palstave axes.  The hafting is now done with the adoption of a handle with a single knee-shaft prong (Savory, 1980, page 48).  Socketed axes date to the Late Bronze Age (c.1000-800 BC).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Blade (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Gilmorton, Harborough, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 74 mm
Thickness: 4 mm
Weight: 30.54 g
Description: Fragment of a possible Bronze age copper alloy blade, 74mm long and weighing 30.54 grams. The object is missing its upper and lower edges and has some corrosion with a blue/green patina. The upper edge is slightly curved and has a central semi circular recess which was probably a circular hole originally. At this point the object is 30mm wide and when viewed in section it tapers from 4mm thick in the centre to just under 1mm at its edge. The object also tapers in width from about one third of its length down, terminating with a broken edge which is 15mm wide. This end also has a tapering section which is the shape of an elongated lozenge. The object is possibly a dagger blade?
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Awl (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Salisbury, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 48 mm
Thickness: 5 mm
Weight: 5.12 g
Description: Copper alloy Bronze Age awl, 48mm in length and roughly circular in section at its mid-point (5mm diameter). This then narrows over 25mm to a point at one end, and at the other becomes square in section (4x4mm) thinning to a flat end (4x1mm), the tang, over 23mm.
Weighs 5.12g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , , Dorset (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 148.5 mm
Thickness: 35.75 mm
Description: A copper alloy palstave axe of Middle Bronze Age date. It is complete with high, curving flanges and a deep hafting recess with high, concave stops. The sides flare out into the crescent shaped blade, the surface of which is slightly rippled. Casting ridges are visible on both of the flanged sides. Much of the original surface is retained under iron deposits generated by soil conditions. Dimensions: 148.5 mm x 61.93 mm x 35.75 mm.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Chisel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Corfe Mullen, East Dorset, Dorset (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 27.13 mm
Thickness: 10.6 mm
Description: 
A fragment from a copper alloy socketed chisel, the blade end only. It is oval sectioned.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Unidentified Object (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Great Mongeham, Dover, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 35.09 mm
Thickness: 8.44 mm
Description: Fragment of cast copper alloy object of possible Bronze Age date.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Chisel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1100)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Buckland Newton, West Dorset, Dorset (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 51.82 mm
Thickness: 9.03 mm
Description: A copper alloy palstave chisel or miniature axe with the cutting edge and part of the hafting groove remaining. The cutting edge is narrow and slightly flaring. It tapers back to a rectangular channel on both sides with raised edges along the side. It's dimensions are 51.82mm x 22.54mm x 9.03mm
Notes: PAL1663
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1150)
Material:  Wood
Found: Llwchwr, Swansea, Swansea (Wales)
Discovery method: Other chance find
Length: 149.4 mm
Diameter: 19.2 mm
Weight: 101.3 g
Description: Middle Bronze Age copper alloy side-looped spearhead, dating to the Taunton (Cenmaes) - Penard metalworking phases (c.1400-1100BC) (Needham et al. 1997), corresponding to Needham's (1996) Period 5 (c. 1500 - 1150BC). The spearhead is complete and is 149.4mm long and weighs 101.3g. The circular socket has an external diameter at the mouth of 19.2mm. Adhering to the inside of the socket is a ring of surviving wood from the spear shaft, (the spear was deposited or lost in a wetland esturine environment). The sides of the socket converge towards the blade. Midway between the blade and the end of the socket are attachment loops (external dimensions 16 x 6mm) with irregular oval tops. The spearhead has a leaf shaped blade (maximum width 30.8mm) with straight converging blade edges. The socket continues as a solid rounded midrib as far as the tip. Bevelled blade edges are evident although eroded. The spearhead had a dark green to brown patina.
Notes: This spearhead has been published by Davis (2012, No.301) and classed within his Type 6B Developed side-looped (Flame, flat blade, lozenge plates). Davis (2012, 76f.) lists 83 of this type of spearhead from Britain, with a concentration around the Thames Valley and a spread across Central England and Wales.



The spearhead can be paralleled with a number of examples recovered from Wales and elsewhere, and is similar to Savory (1980) No. 337:2. A similar side-looped spearhead from the Thames at Mortlake (DoB 31) has recently been dated by Needham et al (1997) producing an early radiocarbon date of 3225+/- 65BP (OxA-5948) 1680-1400BC with a 95% confidence rating. However, overall Davis (2012, 108-110) places this group within the Taunton-Penard metalworking phases.
Subsequent action: Acquired by a museum - not a Treasure case
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Twyning, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 53.9 mm
Thickness: 25.2 mm
Weight: 72.47 g
Description: The axe is a Bronze Age socketed axe, made of cast copper alloy. The axe is a relatively short example. 


  
  The socket rim is a rectangular with rounded corners and edges. The rim on the exterior of the axe is moulded with a single ridge which tapers towards the body of the axe. The rim is regular, therefore the socket mouth is also a rectangular shape. The interior of the socket is smooth, no casting seams or ribs are visible. 


  
  The body of the axe is short and wide. The blade tips flare outwards quickly, and they are asymmetrical. The cutting edge is slightly asymmetrical, this maybe due to ware, or the cutting edge being slightly abraded. Otherwise the cutting edge is quite sharp. 


  
  The sides are straight until they reach the blade tips. They have casting seams visible. One side has the integral semi-circular loop positioned near the rim. In section the loop is a sub-lozenge shape, which is mainly due to the casting seams. 


  
  The exterior surface of the axe has a patchy surface which has the start of a patina. There is some recent damage, scrapes, on the surface. 


  
  The axe weighs 72.47g. From the cutting edge to the rim it measures 53.9mm, across the blade, from tip to tip to measures 35.7mm and the depth of the socket rim is 25.2mm.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1200)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Betchworth, Mole Valley, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 33 mm
Weight: 33.82 g
Description: 
The upper end of a palstave axe. The springing of the side flanges is visible on both sides.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Betchworth, Mole Valley, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 28 mm
Weight: 20.14 g
Description: A small fragment of cast bronze, patinated dark green. Both sides taper to a sharp edge.
Notes: This may be the corner of the blade of a palstave or a socketed axe but the piece is too small for certain identification.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2500 to -1450)
Found: Chetwynd, Telford and Wrekin, Telford and Wrekin (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 74.9 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight: 115.67 g
Description: A cast bronze flat axe (length: 74.9mm; width at blade: 40.3mm; thickness: 11mm; weight: 115.67g).  A small, crudely made and uneven axe with gently sloping sides to the blade.  The blade is not flanged.  The artefact has a high metallic content and would have been made in an open mould (possibly of sandstone), therefore explaining why the surface is no uneven and slightly pitted.  The butt of the axe has tapered to a narrow point but the side is thick.  The axe is worn and in a poor condition.

Similar examples are illustrated in Peter Harbison's 'The Axes of the Early Bronze Age in Ireland', 1969, particularly those of the Logh Ravel type (pages 10-19).

Flat axes date to the Early Bronze Age, between 2,500-1,450 BC.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Found: Stow cum Quy, South Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 30.32 mm
Thickness: 4.72 mm
Weight: 8.45 g
Description: A Fragment of Late Bronze Age Socketed Axe, double mouth moulding, trace of casting flash.      Probably a South Eastern class A. Ewart Park phase, c 1000 - 800 BC.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Whittlesey, Fenland, Cambridgeshire (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 56.5 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Weight: 15.51 g
Description: Fragment, consisting of the tip, of a Late Bronze Age spearhead. The break is ancient and possibly cut - the section is very smooth at this point, although the metal does appear to hava been treated, which may account for this.

The fragment is 56.5mm long and weighs 15.51g. At the break it is 17mm wide (although one edge is worn) and 8mm thick at the mid-rib. At the point, which is worn, it is 3mm wide and 2.5mm thick.

The rib becomes less pronounced c.10mm from the tip, where the blade becomes more lozengiform in section. At the break, the rib is very pronounced, with a slight depression flanking either side.

In shape, the spearhead is triangular and the edges bevelled. One edge is particularly worn. The patina is mostly intact and shiny brown, except on the edges and mid-rib.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-900 to -700)
Found: Fonthill Bishop, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 92.5 mm
Diameter: 20 mm
Weight: 28.04 g
Description: Late Bronze Age bronze spearhead, flame-bladed type, of Greenwell & Brewis type V. The edges of the blade are quite jagged, but otherwise the patina is smooth and shiny and brown.
The socket (diameter 20mm, internal 16mm) is decorated with a series of vertical nicks, which are visible with socket end facing. Above this are four crude incised lines - rather wiggly and in one place one line vears off as though the designer has made a mistake. Directly above these is a ring of vvvvvvvv. Then two more groups of five incised lines, the top-most of which runs through the peg holes, 11.5mm from the socket end.
The spearhead is 92.5mm long and the maximum blade width is 24mm. The edges are bevelled and the tip (now worn) has the classic bullet-shape for this type. Weighs 28.04g.
8th/ 9th century BC.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spearhead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to 800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Forest Hill with Shotover, South Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 16.12 mm
Thickness: 3.93 mm
Weight: 1.28 g
Description: A copper alloy fragment from probably a small spearhead, Bronze Age. Stuart Needham of the British Museum suggested it may be from the middle - late Bronze Age 1,500 - 800BC). The fragment originated near the tip, both ends of the fragment are breaks. The breaks have the same glossy dark green patina as the rest of the surface suggesting the breaks occurred in antiquity. The fragment has a pronounced central midrib; on either side of the midrib the metal gradually thins towards the edges. There is a small notch missing from one side but this may have occurred whilst in the ground. Length: 16.12mm; width: 7.5mm; thickness: 3.93mm; weight: 1.28g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder