Object: Hammer (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-900 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Gilmonby, County Durham, County Durham (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 76.56 mm
Height: 24.28 mm
Weight: 142 g
Description: Description:



A complete cast copper-alloy socketed hammer, probably dating the late Bronze Age 'Ewart Park' phase (c.900-800 BC).



Whilst the hammer is sub-rectangular in cross-section, viewed in plan from above the hammer is rectangular, and the convex sides are sub-rectangular. The hammer is section waisted, expanding into a flared collar, with four concentric grooves (or three bands or 'ribs') encircling the base of the flared socket end. The socket mouth is sub-circular whilst the interior void appears to taper toward the hammer end. Casting lines running along the upper and lower face of the hammer indicate that it was cast in two parts. These casting marks have mostly been removed or ground out; however, they are clearly visible at the point at which the four concentric grooves meet. The hammer tapers sharply from the socket toward the mid-point, before again flaring more gently toward the hammer face. The striking face of the hammer shows evidence of extensive use-wear, with a pronounced uneven slant visible, together with numerous nicks and gouges.



The hammer has a dark brown patina and, with the noted exception of contemporary use-wear, is in excellent condition with no obvious signs of active corrosion.



Discussion:



The earliest socketed hammers are recovered from Middle Bronze age contexts, such as those described by Rowlands (1976a and b) and Eogan (1964 274-5) from the Irish 'Bishopland Phase' (approximately contemporary to the Taunton Phase, c.1400-1250BC). However, hammers are more commonly found in association with Late Bronze Age hoards (Rowlands, 1976), as the hammer above was. Burgess (1968, 19) notes that later examples are "invariably embellished, usually with some form of collar". The concentric ribs on the example under discussion here could be interpreted as a form of collar; the collar is, however, much clearer on the hammers recorded on the PAS database as YORYM-ABCCE1 and FAKL-9C9543. Nevertheless, the latter examples are the closet parallels thus far recorded by the PAS, particularly as they too have circular sockets. Burgess (ibid) further notes that few parallels exist for the "longer socketed hammer" in Northern Britain, of which the hammer described above is likely to be an example. However, it is noticeably shorter by c.20mm than similar long socketed hammers, including hammer LVPL-5A6D83. In common with the majority of these examples, and the remainder of Hoard 2015-T566/DUR-1F5057 (with which the hammer was found; see below) a date consistent with the Late Bronze Age Ewart Park Phase (c.900-800 BC) is likely. At the time of writing, the hammer constitutes the furthest north recorded example on the PAS database, and the first recovered from Co. Durham.



Note:



The hammer was found with Bronze Age Hoard (2015-T566; DUR-1F5057) and was initially thought to be unrelated. However, the object has since been identified as a late Bronze Age hammer, and has been reported as Treasure on the basis that is was found in the same place as, and had previously been together with, another object that is Treasure (that is, the hoard 2015-T566; DUR-1F5057) and thus falls under the stipulations of the 1996 Treasure Act.



Dimensions:



Overall length: 76.56mm



Height (hammer face): 24.28mm



Width (hammer face): 20.35mm



Height (waist): 18.94mm



Width (waist): 20.03mm



Socket diameter:



Outer: 26.68mm



Inner: 19.08



Depth (socket): 54.75mm



Thickness (socket): 4.59mm



Weight: 142g



References:



Burgess, C., 1968. Bronze age metalwork in northern England, c.1000 to 700 B.C. Oriel P. [for the Museum of Antiquities of the University and Society of Antiquities of Newcastle upon Tyne], Newcastle upon Tyne.



Eogan, G., 1964. The Later Bronze Age in Ireland in the light of recent research. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 30, 268-351. doi:10.1017/S0079497X00015152



Rowlands, M.J., 1976a. The production and distribution of metalwork in the middle bronze age in southern Britain Vol 1, British Archaeological Reports.



Rowlands, M.J., 1976b. The production and distribution of metalwork in the middle bronze age in southern Britain. Vol 2, British Archaeological Reports.
Notes: Found with dispersed Bronze Age Hoard DUR-1F5057 (2015-T566) and initially discounted. 



Later recognised as a Bronze age hammer.
Subsequent action: Submitted for consideration as Treasure