dejp3/bronze-age-objects-pas huggingface dataset:
Object: Unidentified Object (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to MODERN ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Thursley, Waverley, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 67 mm
Weight: 48.73 g
Description: A curving bar of rectangular section. One end widens and terminates in a chisel-like end. The bar is curved in two directions in relation to the wider end. The narrow end appears to be broken.
Notes: Although this appears to be a chisel the dark green of the metal and the rectangular section suggest that it is not of Bronze Age date.  The object may be modern.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Rapier (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1200 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lenham, Maidstone, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 97.61 mm
Thickness: 5.35 mm
Description: Section of cast copper alloy double-edged blade, probably from a rapier.  Pronounced mid-rib, worn transverse break at either end.  Damaged blade edges, mottled green-brown patina with some active corrosion.  
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Weapon (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , , Essex (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 34.02 mm
Thickness: 3.76 mm
Weight: 10.49 g
Description: Fragment of copper alloy double edged blade, probably Bronze Age. This fragment is subrectangular in plan with a lentoid section. Both broken ends are straight, as if the blade has been deliberately broken, possibly for its inclusion in a scrap hoard. The object is slightly bent, supporting this theory. The narrowness of the fragment suggests it has come from the pointed end of a weapon, possibly a spearhead. The fragment is abraded. Where the original surface survives, it has a dark green patina, but is otherwise mid green in colour. It has a surviving length of 34.02mm, is 16.98mm wide, 3.76mm thick and weighs 10.49g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Thornham, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Norfolk (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 34 mm
Thickness: 4 mm
Weight: 5.5 g
Description: Copper alloy fragment, 34mm long, 8mm wide and 4mm thick. The object has a bright green patina and weighs 5.50 grams. The object is rectangular in form and triangular in section. The narrow edge is slightly rounded and 1mm thick. The widest edge, 4mm thick, has broken and clearly shows two layers of metal with a small void in between(One side has a small triangular protrusion overlapping the break). This would suggest a blade tip perhaps off a small axe or a chisel?
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Metal Working Debris (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Betchworth, Mole Valley, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 50 mm
Weight: 80 g
Description: A fragment of metal working debris. The object appears to have some form to it in that it is approximately symmetrical. A piece of fired clay adheres to one part.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2000 to -1700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: North Heywood, Rochdale, Rochdale (North West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 115 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Description: Narrow-butted Bronze Age flat axe in corroded condition. 
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: North Rode, Cheshire East, Cheshire East (North West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 44.7 mm
Thickness: 5 mm
Weight: 30.91 g
Description: Fragment of Bronze Age sword blade. Bi convex in section, slightly tapering, no original surface remaining.
   
Notes: This fragment joins with another (LVPL-2376) found at the same findspot in 2002 (see photo)
 Dimensions of LVPL-2376 are: L 37.6mm, W31.7mm, T 5.5mm, Wt 31.03g
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Muker, Richmondshire, North Yorkshire (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Fieldwalking
Length: 83.19 mm
Thickness: 34.4 mm
Weight: 154.44 g
Description: Late Bronze Age looped and socketed axehead dating to 1000-800BC.  The axehead is cast from copper alloy and is of the Ewart Park tradition.  The axehead is complete and in good condition and has a piece of wood inside the socket mouth, this fragment is loose and it is unclear as to whether this is a piece of the original haft or a later intrusion.  It has been handled and so would not be datable.  
 
 
The axehead has a square socket mouth with a small protrusion on one edge and a single moulded rim.  Below the rim on one side of the axehead is the loop (with an oval section).  The faces of the axehead are plain and a casting seam is present down both sides of the object.  The blade is expanded; measuring 40.1mm across the cutting edge, and there are blade tip hollows.  The blade edge is intact with few signs of wear.  The patina is greeny brown.
    
 
 The axehead weighs 160.44g (including wooden fragment) and 154.44 (without wood).  It measure 83.19mm in length, 41.7mm in width (across mouth and loop) and 34.4mm in width (across mouth).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2000 to -1450)
Found: Wall, Lichfield, Staffordshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 130.5 mm
Thickness: 7.3 mm
Weight: 208.79 g
Description: A cast bronze flat axe (length: 130.5mm; width: 63.2mm; thickness: 7.3mm; weight: 208.79g).  This badly corroded and slightly broken axe has a splayed blade which is irregular and off-centre (without flanges).  There is a possibly that the axe was not finished as the blade edge does not appear to have been sharpened, but it is difficult to tell as the surface of the axe is pitted and only fragments of the original surface/ patina survive.

This axe dates to the Early Bronze Age, between c. 2000-1450 BC.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1400 to -1200)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Dunchurch, Rugby, Warwickshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 138 mm
Thickness: 22.7 mm
Description: A complete but worn cast unlooped copper alloy palstave axe (length: 138mm; width [at blade]: 50.1mm; thickness: 22.7mm; weight: exceeds the limits of the scales).  The septum (length: 50.1mm) is much shorter than the blade (83.4mm), with a stop dividing the two.  The flange stops are very low, with a height of approximately 3-4mm.  There is a midrib clearly down the centre of the blade's length on one side, with an indication of a worn midrib on the other side.  The blade tip and cutting edge are no longer visible due to corrosion and wear.  The flat side flanges extend from the butt to the blade edge, which seems to be a common appearance in what Rowlands classifies as a Class 2 type.  Medial ribs on the blade face are also a more common feature of this type (M J Rowlands, 'The Organisation of Middle Bronze Age Metalworking: Part I: Discussion', 1976, page 30).  The artefact is in a worn but fair condition.

A similar example is illustrated in Rowland's publication (Plate 29, Ref no 650), and was found at Bardon Hill, Leicestershire.

This artefact was identified and recorded by Philip J Wise at Warwickshire Museum on 25/07/1991, who noted that is was the first prehistoric find from the Dunchurch area.  Additionally, he mentioned a similar palstave was recorded from Stechford, Birmingham, dating between 1400-1000 BC (the Middle Bronze Age).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Brailes, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 18.3 mm
Thickness: 7.8 mm
Weight: 13.31 g
Description: The object is the possible butt of a palstave. It is made from cast copper alloy. If it is a palstave butt, it probably dates to Bronze Age period. 


 
 The surface of the leg is covered with a mottled green/brown patina. There are areas of a sooty deposit. In plan the butt is a slight trapezoid with the widest edge being the broken edge. The break is not recent. In section the butt is a sub-rectangle. The sides are slightly more thick than the centre of the break, the thicker sides is possibly where the flanges are starting. The sides of the butt have worn casting seams remaining. The surface is slightly pitted. The patina is a heavy brown colour. 


 
 The butt is 18.3mm long, 23.5mm wide and 7.8mm thick. It weighs 13.31g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Scarrington, Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 32.1 mm
Thickness: 6.25 mm
Weight: 8.7 g
Description: Bronze blade tip, probably spear. length 32.10mm, width 17.68mm, thickness 6.25mm, weight 8.70g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1275 to -1140)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Berden, Uttlesford, Essex (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 29.1 mm
Thickness: 8.26 mm
Weight: 33.43 g
Description: Fragment of Bronze Age palstave axe. This fragment represents the back end of a palstave axe and appears to have broken from the axe at the point of the backstop. The fragment is subtriangular in plan and section with a wedge shaped profile in that it narrows towards its back edge. To either side are clear flanges set at 90 degrees to the main body of the object. The original surface of the axe is missing and it is now abraded and pocked. It has a mid green patina with spots of brighter green corrosion. The break edge, though worn, is very regular, suggesting the axe had been deliberately broken, possibly for its inclusion in a scrap hoard. It is 29.1mm long, 25.74mm wide, 8.26mm thick at the widest point. The flanges are 12.06mm high. The fragment weighs 33.43g. Axes of this type date to from the middle to late Bronze Age c.1275-1140BC.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1000 to )
Found: Ockham, Guildford, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 15 mm
Weight: 1.7 g
Description: The extreme tip of a spear (or just possibly a sword).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1000)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Kirklington, Newark and Sherwood, Nottinghamshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 71.72 mm
Thickness: 13.62 mm
Weight: 24.39 g
Description: Bronze Age spearhead, tip missing and blade edges damaged, possibly missing end of socket, little of original surface remaining. There is a small loop on either side of the socket, c.halfway between blade and the end of the socket - one of the loops is slightly damaged. The pointed midrib produces a lozenge shaped section to the blade and socket. Length 71.72mm, width (across blade)22.68mm, width (across loops) 15.76mm, width (across socket end ) c.11.5mm, thickness (across broken end) 8.68mm, thickness (across socket end) 13.62mm, internal diameter of mouth of socket c.8.8mm, internal length of unbroken loop 2.9mm, internal width of unbroken loop 2.06mm, weight 24.39g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Longdon, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 29.6 mm
Weight: 7.19 g
Description: The object appears to be the tip of a Bronze Age spear head. It has been made from cast copper alloy. 


 
 In plan it is an elongated triangular shape, with a blunt tip. In profile it has a lozenge shaped section with two of the opposite corners being rounded. The break is not recent. Where the spear head is broken there is a slight concave area, which is where the socket of the spear presumably terminated. 


 
 The object has a well developed mid green patina. It weighs 7.19g, and measures 29.6mm long, 14.6mm wide and 7mm thick.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1400 to -1300)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Milnthorpe, South Lakeland, Cumbria (North West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 105 mm
Weight: 120 g
Description: Unlooped Bronze Age palstave. Prominent stop ridge, blade gradually increases in width before flaring to a curved cutting edge. 
Notes: Recorded from photograph only. Not seen by NH. 
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Thorpe Audlin, Wakefield, Wakefield (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 51 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight: 42.97 g
Description: Fragment of Bronze Age palstave axehead.  Only a small part of the butt end of the axehead survives and is quite corroded.  The side flanges are intact on the edges of the butt but none of the blade survives.  The piece weighs 42.97g and measures 51mm in length, 22mm in width (across the side flange) and 16mm in thickness.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Ingot (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Marldon, South Hams, Devon (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Weight: 108 g
Description: Small piece of copper alloy, possibly part of a bun-shaped ingot. If so, it is Bronze Age in date. It was found in a field containing another fragment of possible ingot, a fragment of Bronze Age knife blade, as well as a large number of medieval and post medieval pot legs and slag.
Notes: See also DEV-677584 and DEV-66E583
Object: Blade (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Brooke, Rutland, Rutland (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 42 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 7.14 g
Description: Possible Bronze age copper alloy blade, 42mm long, 13.5mm wide, 3mm thick and with a weight of 7.14 grams. The blade has a green/brown patina with shiny patches. The blade has damaged edges and is 3mm thick in the centre tapering gently to 1mm. The width tapers very slightly from 13.5mm to 11.5mm and may represent part of a rapier blade.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Knife (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1000)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Marldon, South Hams, Devon (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 24 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 7.62 g
Description: Fragment of knife blade. It is 24mm in length, has a lozenge-shaped section and has an almost identical width at each broken end of 14.5mm. It is probably Middle to Late Bronze Age in date.
Notes: There are several such Bronze Age finds in Devon, notably the Talaton Hoard (c.1050BC to 850BC), which is on display at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter with part of the hoard also at the British Museum.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Ingot (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -801)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Marldon, South Hams, Devon (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Weight: 902 g
Description: 
A fragment of a copper-alloy object, possibly representing part of a Bronze Age plano-convex ingot.



The piece would appear to be from the edge of the ingot, as part of the curved side remains. The piece is roughly cast, with several air pockets visible.

Notes: See also possible fragment of bun-shaped ingot DEV-663AF1 and knife fragment DEV-66E583.
Object: Chisel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (2000 to 800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Gayton, South Northamptonshire, Northamptonshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 50.9 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 10.3 g
Description: Copper-alloy chisel blade. The blade is 50.9 mm long. It is flanged at the impact end to a width of 21 mm. The other end is pointed and measures 2.4 mm wide, expanding to a width of 15 mm before the dramatic flange. The chisel is likely to date from the Bronze Age, and ranges in date from between circa 2000 BC to 800 BC.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Nevern, Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 19.4 mm
Thickness: 10.1 mm
Weight: 28.8 g
Description: 
Blade-end fragment from a Bronze Age axehead of uncertain type and date. The axe is represented by the end of the blade only and no evidence survives on the broken section for the bottom of a socket. The blade edge and the blade tips have also been lost. The sides of the axe are diverging, possibly resulting in a recurved blade edge. The faces are slightly convex, resulting in an oval section. The axe would have been comparatively slender, probably suggesting the fragment was from a palstave or socketed axe.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Blade (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to ROMAN (-950 to -750)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Penllyn, the Vale of Glamorgan, the Vale of Glamorgan (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 302.5 mm
Thickness: 8.8 mm
Weight: 353.2 g
Description: Two co-joining blade fragments from a sword of Bronze Age date. None of the diagnostic features are present on the blade fragments, but the sword is likely to be a Ewart Park type sword of the Ewart Park metalworking tradition, c. 950 - 750BC. The sword blade is leaf-shaped and is widest at the centre of the fragment. The combined fragments (c. 300mm) probably represent a little over three quarters of the original blade length and approximately half the original length of the sword. The blade has a low lozenge shaped section, with a rounded mid-section and slightly concave outer section. The blade edges have been lost, but the start of the bevel is discernible in areas. The blade appears to have been bent prior to breaking, as evidenced by visible metal stress on the inside of the bend either side of the fracture. The sword bent by an angle of approximately 25 degrees before breaking. The bending has also resulted in both fragments being curved along their length. The sword was probably bent and broken prior to its deposition. One of the ends (probably the tip end) has deep parallel striations running along the blade on the mid section, which are also likely to have occurred in antiquity. The blade has a dark green patina, with small areas of surface loss. The fragments' length is 170mm hilt end and 132.5mm tip end. Its surviving width closest to the hilt is 26mm and its surviving width closest to tip is 23mm. The fragments' maximum width is 33.5mm. The thickness at the hilt end is 8.5mm and the thickness at the tip end (i.e. the minimum thickness) is 6.8mm. The overall maximum thickness is 8.8mm and the thickness at the break is 8.1mm. The blade fragments weigh 205 grams and 148.2 grams, hilt end and tip end respectively.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 287 mm
Diameter: 30 mm
Weight: 337.2 g
Description: Large complete pegged spearhead of Late Bronze age date of Blackmoor or Ewart Park metalwork tradition, corresponding with the end of Needham's (1996) Period 6 to Period 7 and dated to c. 1000 - 750BC. The socket is gently convex below the blade, giving it the impression of bowing-out. The base of the socket is circular to the position of the circular peg holes (6mm diameter), positioned 40mm from the end. Above the peg holes, side and face ridges develop, giving the socket a sub-square profile. The side ridges run into the beginning of the blade and the face ridges develop into a pointed midrib, which continues to the tip. The blade is flame-shaped and comparatively slender. The blade is solid and the faces are very gently concave. The blade edge is stepped and survives along most of the length. The spearhead is in very good condition with crisp features. The casting seams have been removed and are not visible. The spearhead measures 287mm in length. The maximum external diameter of the socket base is 29.1-30.0mm. The maximum blade width is 52.0mm. The spearhead weighs 337.2 grams.
Notes: This spearhead can be classed as Davis' (2015) Type 11A Generic, Flame-shaped. Group 11 spearheads have a broad chronology, beginning in the Penard metalworking phase of the later Middle Bronze Age (1275-1120 BC), but continuing to the end of the Late Bronze Age. Their main currency was in the Blackmoor-Ewart Park phases though (c.1000-800 BC) (Needham et al. 1997).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Chisel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (2000 to 800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Harpole, South Northamptonshire, Northamptonshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 9 mm
Thickness: 4 mm
Weight: 2.3 g
Description: This fragment of an artefact appears to be the tip of a chisel, gouge or similar tool. It is copper-alloy and measures 21 mm wide at what remains of the blade tip, and 9 mm in length. It is difficult to gauge the original length of the blade tip as it is broken at one side, and it is also broken along its length. The fragment is 4 mm thick at its thickest, tapering to 0.5 mm at the tip. It is possible that this object represents the remains of a Bronze Age tool, but not enough of it remains to date it with any certainty based on a stylistic argument.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Adze (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Knockholt, Sevenoaks, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 65 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Description: Cast copper alloy adze, of middle to late Bronze Age date.
Notes: Not seen by FLO, identified from image only.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Dagger (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Swanley, Sevenoaks, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 76.03 mm
Thickness: 2 mm
Weight: 20.12 g
Description: Copper alloy flat dagger blade.  The blade, which has an even green patina, is slightly damaged around most of its edge, and of two original rivet holes for the attachment of the handle, only one is partially present.  There are a series of incised overlapping circles on either side mid-way between the rivet holes.  This dagger dates to the Early Bronze Age.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Chisel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1100 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , Carmarthenshire, Carmarthenshire (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 44.7 mm
Weight: 10.5 g
Description: Bronze Age tanged and collared chisel fragment, likely to be of Late Bronze Age date. The chisel is represented by the blade, collar, and the beginning of the tang and has a surviving length of 44.7mm. The tang has broken just above the collar, which survives as a low transverse ridge on each face and is more projecting on the sides. The collar has a surviving width of 8.7mm, but is very worn. The thickness at this point is 6.2mm. The blade is crinoline in plan with a gently curved cutting edge of 16.6mm width. Much of the original surface has been lost and the chisel is eroded.
Notes: Tanged and collared chisels typically date from the Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age (Llyn Fawr period). An example dating to the Wilburton/Wallington phase is known from Doncaster, Yorkshire (Burgess 1968, 19, fig 7,2; Burgess, Coombs and Davies, 1972, 217), though the main currency is during the Ewart Park phase (c.900-700 BC) into the subsequent Llyn Fawr period (c.700-600 BC).



The crinoline shape of the blade is quite unusual and reminiscent of some Middle Bronze Age palstave forms, though is less well-known from later contexts. Additionally, later collars are typically more prominent. This may suggest this is an earlier form of tanged and collared chisel.



Tanged and collared chisels have a broad distribution across northern France, Britain and Ireland (see Coffyn et al. 1981, 202-203, Carte 7), though there are relatively few examples from western England and Wales. A very similar example with a thick collar and triangular blade can be seen in the large Ewart Park phase Nottingham Hill hoard, Gloucestershire (Gingell 1974, 308, fig 4,22), as well as a single find from Leigh Woods, Bristol (MacGregor 1987, 109, 11.65). Another example was found at Brogyntyn, Shropshire (Savory 1980, No 288.3) associated with a socketed gouge and a fragmentary Hallstatt 'C' sword.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spearhead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1100)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 46.8 mm
Thickness: 7.6 mm
Weight: 10.53 g
Description: An incomplete cast copper alloy socketed spearhead tip with evidence of a long slender leaf shaped blade (length: 46.8mm; width: 15.2mm; thickness: 7.6mm; weight: 10.53g), dating to the Bronze Age between 2200-c.900 BC. There is a highly pronounced rib running up the centre of the fragment on either side illustration the continuation of the socket, forming a central square-sectioned profile with the wings to either side as well. The overall condition of the artefact is worn, corroded, and in a poor condition. Very little of the original patina remains, which is dark green in colour. The end of the tip is very narrow and pointed. The irregular break at is an old one.



Two similar examples displaying the slender blade are illustrated in Watson's 'Catalogue of british and European Prehistoric Metalwork in Birmingham City Museums', 1993, BAR British Series 233, page 21, ref nos 245-6, found in Spain (no exact provenance) and page 25, ref no 324, found in Neuchatel, Switzerland.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Casting Waste (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to MEDIEVAL (-2000 to 1499)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Newton and Haceby, North Kesteven, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 20 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Description: Copper alloy casting waste.  The objects shape is very irregular and the surface has a melted appearence.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1950 to -1750)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Hannington, Basingstoke and Deane, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 77.8 mm
Thickness: 11.3 mm
Weight: 88.5 g
Description: Bronze developed flat axe (or flanged axe), probably of Type Glenalla (following Schmidt and Burgess 1981) or Class 4 (following Needham 1983; forthcoming) and dating to the Early Bronze Age, Period 3 (1950-1750 BC) (Needham 1996).



The axehead is a small example with a length of 77.8mm, and is also comparatively slender with a width at the bevel of 19.9mm. The butt is rounded and the sides are near-parallel (with a width at the butt of 18.2mm) as far as the bevel. After the bevel, the sides curve very gently outwards as far as the blade, where the sides turn out sharply to the blade tips, producing an expanded cutting edge with a surviving width of 39.0mm. The edges of the faces are raised slightly (1mm), but have been eroded and the sides are convex across their thickness. The faces are flat either side of the bevel, which is positioned 34mm from the butt. The blade begins 17mm from the edge. The surface of the axe has been largely lost, in addition to the cutting edge and one of the blade tips.
Notes: Class 4 axes straddle the boundary between Periods 2 and 3, but this axe can be confidently assigned to Period 3, probably falling within the late Aylesford to Willerby metalworking phases (c.1950-1750 BC) (Needham et al. 1997). At the time of writing (Aug 17) 27 Class 4 axes dating to this period are currently known from across Wales, the vast majority being single finds.



A Class 4E axe was found at Breach Farm, Vale of Glamorgan and is now in AC-NMW collections (Savory 1980, No 388.1); it has recently been radiocarbon dated, producing an early date of 1900 -1800 BC.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -900)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , Reigate and Banstead, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 33 mm
Weight: 5.73 g
Description: The tip of a spear, or possibly a rapier. The edges are very eroded and the object may originally have been about one third wider.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Unidentified Object (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to POST MEDIEVAL (-2000 to 1699)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Beesby with Saleby, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 56 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Description: Fragment of an unidentified object.  The object is triangular in plan, solid cast, and roughly rectangular in cross-section.  The object tapers to a worn but intact point.  The objects surface is extremely abraded and has a very rough break.  The object has an almost 'spear-tip' appearence, however the size, density and terminal of the object would seem to suggest another function.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spearhead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1100)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Ilam, Staffordshire Moorlands, Staffordshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 60.3 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight: 21.71 g
Description: An incomplete fragment of a cast copper alloy Late Bronze Age socketed spearhead (length: 60.3mm; width: 25mm; thickness: 9mm; weight: 21.71g). The artefact seems to have broken off have way down the blade, and a side section illustrates the blade wings to be slightly unlevel either side and the hollow socket visible. The mid rib continues down to the tip of the blade. The spearhead is worn and in a poor condition with greater corrosion along the cutting edge, with some bronze disase in areas.



A similar example is illustrated in Watson's 'Catalogue of British and European Prehistoric Metalwork in Birmingham City Museums', 1993, page 25, ref no 324, which is described as a 'pegged socketed spearhead with long slender leaf shaped blade; central rib down both faces formed by continuation of socket. Blow holes in rib and near top of socket'. The find was found at Lake Neuchatel.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Brailes, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 150.4 mm
Thickness: 16.5 mm
Weight: 58.98 g
Description: The object is an incomplete cast copper alloy side looped and socketed spearhead of probable Middle Bronze Age date (1500 - 1150 BC). 


  
  The spearhead is an elongated sub-triangular shape in plan and the blade in section is a sub lozenge shape. The socket in section is a sub-circle. The upper most tip of the blade has broken off, and is missing. The break is not a recent break. In profile this portion of the blade is bent slightly due to damage. The edges of the blade are convex tapering towards the tip. 


  
  The socket of the spear head tapers slightly towards the blade. The lower edge of the socket is torn and is not the original edge. On either side of the socket, integral to the surface there are incomplete side loops. The internal diameter of the socket is 13.5mm, but this is not the lower edge. 


  
  The spearhead is a patchy mid-brown green coloured patina. In length it is 150.4mm long, 20.2mm wide across the loops and 16.5mm thick across the socket. It weighs 59.98g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Betchworth, Mole Valley, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 34 mm
Weight: 23.53 g
Description: A short length of a Bronze Age sword blade. Both sides have a prominent groove along the edges of the rounded central rib. Both blade edges are very eroded.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Metal Working Debris (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2000 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Betchworth, Mole Valley, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 37 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight: 45.16 g
Description: A shapeless lump of casting debris. The object has a dull copper colour with rough green surfaces.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Metal Working Debris (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2000 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Reigate Central, Reigate and Banstead, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 55 mm
Weight: 287 g
Description: A large fragment of a cast 'plano-convex' circular 'cake' or ingot of copper alloy.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Metal Working Debris (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2000 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Reigate Central, Reigate and Banstead, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 63 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight: 282 g
Description: A fragment of a plano-convex ingot or 'cake'.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Metal Working Debris (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2000 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lewes, Lewes, East Sussex (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 30 mm
Weight: 23.4 g
Description: A casting 'jet'; this is debris from the casting of a metal object. The single feeder jet itself is circular in section and merges into a conical head which represents the well or reservoir at the upper part of the mould. There are carbon deposits on all surfaces.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flanged Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1725 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Penllyn, the Vale of Glamorgan, the Vale of Glamorgan (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 73.5 mm
Thickness: 15.6 mm
Weight: 165.9 g
Description: Incomplete copper alloy low-flanged axe of Early Bronze Age date. The axe belongs to Type Arreton (following Schmidt and Burgess 1981) or Class 5 (following Needham 1983; forthcoming). It can be dated to the Arreton metalworking phase (1725-1500 cal. BC), falling within the later half of Period 4 (Needham 1996; Needham et al. 1997).



The axe is incomplete, missing the butt and one of the blade tips. The axe has a surviving length of 73.5mm and would have had an approximate length of 110mm when complete. The sides are straight and near parallel, with a width at the septum of 28.2mm. The flanges and sides are gently rounded and convex, with a maximum height of 15.6mm. The sides have hammered decoration of diagonal markings. The sides curve out sharply just above the blade to produce a widely expanded crescentic cutting edge. The blade face is slightly convex, while the face is slightly dished. There is a straight median bevel and the axe has a thickness at the bevel of 12.2mm. Both faces have a number of small hammer marks of c. 2mm diameter. Sharpening striations running along the cutting edge are evident on both faces. The axe has a deep brown green patina which has flaked off in areas. The axe fragment weighs 165.9g.
Notes: Class 5/Arreton axes are widely spread across southern England and have a broad distribution in Wales, with 25 currently known from hoards, burials and as single finds. The Penllyn axe falls within Needham's Class 5E group, defined by a broad body and flanges over 1.5mm high. Another Class 5E axe is known from Llanarmon Dyfrryn Ceiriog, Wrexham, and currently held in the AC-NMW collections (Savory 1980, No.118), though this example lacks any decoration on the flanges. A Class 5A axe with similarly decorated flanges was found in the Menai Bridge hoard, Anglesey (Savory 1980, No.259).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy Ceramic
Found: Barnstaple, North Devon, Devon (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 38 mm
Thickness: 16.5 mm
Weight: 110 g
Description: 
Part of a Late Bronze Age copper-alloy socketed axe, with the remains of a ceramic core inside.

Notes: See DEV-D908B5
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Casting Waste (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Brailes, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 18.6 mm
Thickness: 19.3 mm
Weight: 14.75 g
Description: The object is probably a portion of casting waste from a Bronze Age object. It appears to be a casting jet made from cast copper alloy. Watson illustrates similar casting jets (No. 19 for example) which are dated to the Bronze Age. 


 
 The object is an irregular inverted conical shape, with a sub-oval shaped platform. Protruding from the tip of the conical is a single runner which is sub-rectangular in profile and an elongated sub-oval shape in plan.  


 
 The casting jet has a pitted brown coloured patina, which has bronze disease in patches. It weighs 14.75g and measures 18.6mm long, 22.7mm wide and 19.3mm thick.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Armlet (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , Thanet, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 111.76 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight: 80.5 g
Description: Cast copper alloy penannular ring, probably an armlet or torc.  For most of its length it has a rounded cross-section with a maximum diameter of about 9mm.  It narrows towards each terminal, before expanding slightly into terminals with a squarish cross-section about 6-7mm across.  It is bent slightly out of shape.  This object is possibly of Bronze Age date, but its lack of diagnostic features makes this uncertain.
Notes: Recovered from 'scrap box' five years after discovery.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Little Thurlow, St. Edmundsbury, Suffolk (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 45.46 mm
Thickness: 10.14 mm
Weight: 10.14 g
Description: Fragment of cast copper alloy Bronze Age socketed spear. This fragment represents the very tip of the spearhead. It is triangular in plan and lenticular in section. The spear tip has a median rib, which would have continued down the body of the spearhead. The fragment is solid, except for a short, circular hollow shaft in the broad end of the tip, which represents the very end of the hollow socket. This has an internal diameter of 7.34mm. The object has received damage along one edge, which runs onto the rib and it is also split up the rib either side. Edges are worn suggesting this damage occurred in antiquity. Aside from this damage the original surface of this object survives well with a mid brown patina. Damaged portions show light green corrosion product. The fragment is 45.46mm long, 17mm at the widest point, 10.14mm thick at the rib and weighs 10.14g. Unfortunately with so much of the spear missing, it is impossible to tell which phase of the Bronze Age it belongs to.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1250 to -1100)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Trowbridge, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 61 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight: 108.19 g
Description: Fragment of Middle Bronze Age Transitional Palstave axehead, broken across the main body of the axe (ancient break) and also across one corner of the cutting edge (more recent break). It is probably of Type Roundhay, mid-ribbed variant : the cutting edge has been moderately expanded and at the ancient break the body is narrow (20mm wide). The mid-rib is 5mm wide at the break and continues over 40mm at the same width on both faces.
The fragment is 61mm in length and the surviving cutting edge is 38mm wide. Its estimated original cutting edge width is 43mm. At the ancient break, the cross section is rectangular and measures 20x15mm. It is a clean, and therefore probably purposeful, break.
One face is extremely pitted and ever so slightly concaved in section, so it appears bent. The pitting may therefore have been caused by repeated hammer blows. On the opposite face is a deep roughly horizontal cut.
No original patina survives and the edge is worn. The fragment weighs 108.19g.
Transitional palstaves date to the Penard phase, at the end of the Middle Bronze Age, c.-1250 to -1100 BC. Transitional palstaves had a single side loop.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Rapier (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1400 to 1200)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Bigby, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Fieldwalking
Length: 113.3 mm
Thickness: 4.3 mm
Weight: 28.34 g
Description: A tip fragment of a cast copper-alloy Middle Bronze Age rapier. The blade is lozenge-shaped in cross-section and has a slight rib running down the centre of both sides. The rapier belongs to C. Burgess' Group II, lozenge blade section (1968, 3). The blade is slightly curved and bends upwards at the broken end. The blade has had some plough damage and the edges of the blade are worn and feathered in parts. The tip of the blade has a patch of brown patina on both sides, but most of the blade is a bright green colour. The surviving length 113.3mm, the widest part is 22.6mm, the thickness is 4.3mm and the weight is 28.34g.



Group II rapiers come from the first phrase of the Middle Bronze Age, known as the Pickering Phrase c.1400-1200 (Burgess, 1968, 3).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1400 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire, Carmarthenshire (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 82.6 mm
Diameter: 18 mm
Weight: 25.6 g
Description: Incomplete 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 corroded and incomplete, missing most of the blade and some of the socket on one face. The spearhead has a surviving height of 82.6mm and a maximum external diameter at the mouth of 18mm. The sides of the socket converge comparatively sharply towards the beginning of the blade. The socket continues along the blade to form a prominent rounded midrib. The sides of the socket are slightly pronounced and have the suggestion of side or socket loop stubs approximately 11mm apart. Much of the socket on one face is missing; some of this may be the result of miscasting (where the core has been incorrectly aligned), rather than later damage. The socket has a surviving depth of 63mm. The remnants of the blade are evident on both sides, but little of the blade survives. The spearhead weighs 25.6g (after cleaning).
Notes: This spearhead has been published by Davis (2012, No.646) and classed within his Group 6 Developed side-looped, though due to this objects incompleteness it could not be assigned a sub-type. Davis (2012) notes almost 500 Group 6 spearheads from across Britain dating to the Middle Bronze Age, which have a broad distribution. Davis' spearhead sub-types 6A, 6B and 6C are particularly prevalent across Wales, all of which have 'flame-shaped' blades, which might strengthen the idea that this spearhead originally had a flame-shaped blade, rather than a leaf-shaped blade. The spearhead is likely to have been quite short and can be paralleled with a number of similar examples in National Museum & Galleries of Wales' collections (Savory 1980, Nos. 227-230).



A 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: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1400 to -1100)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Beaumaris, Isle of Anglesey, Isle of Anglesey (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 163 mm
Weight: 74 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 a relatively long and slender example of the type, with a length of 163mm and maximum width across the blade of 26.3mm. The spearhead weighs 74.0g. The circular socket end has an external diameter at the mouth of 17.8mm. The end of the socket is decorated with three horizontal grooves around the circumference. The sides of the socket converge towards the blade. Midway between the blade and the end of the socket are attachment loops with oval tops (external dimensions 15 x 5mm). The socket becomes increasingly lozenge sectioned as it approaches the blade. The flame shaped blade is slender and is comparatively slight with a consistent thickness of 1mm and without a bevelled blade edge. The blade has a number of possibly decorative grooves running alongside the midrib. The blade edge is straight and comparatively long (90mm) and has a number of nicks and distortions; this damage is likely to have occurred in antiquity (M. Davis pers comm.). The lozenge sectioned socket develops into pointed and prominent midribs along the blade. A number of small casting flaws are evident on the blade. The surface of the spearhead has survived well and has a mid brown patina. Northover (unpublished) sees socket looped spearheads as a largely Irish type. The type has been known to occur through late Acton Park to Pennard but concentrated in the Cemmaes industry. The mouth decoration, thin and slender blade and pointed midrib on this example are a little unusual. The mouth decoration can be paralleled on a side-looped spearhead from Hod Hill (Pearce 1983, No. 443) and the slender form can be paralleled in examples recorded by Ehrenberg (1977, nos. 25, 26, 28, 140, 143).
Notes: This spearhead has been published by Davis (2012, No.290) 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. Other Type 6B spearheads are recorded from Llwchwr, Swansea (NMGW-060FE0), Trefeglwys, Powys (Davis 2012, No.330) and Newton Beach, Bridgend (Davis 2012, No.336). A Group 6 side-looped spearhead from the Thames at Mortlake (DoB 31) has 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: Returned to finder
Object: Unidentified Object (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to IRON AGE (-2200 to 43)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Ilam, Staffordshire Moorlands, Staffordshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 39.2 mm
Thickness: 8.6 mm
Weight: 8.74 g
Description: An incomplete cast copper alloy unidentified artefact, possibly of prehistoric date (length: 39.2mm; width: 14.8mm; thickness: 8.6mm; weight: 8.74g).  At one end, this artefact splays outwards into a rounded but flat terminal, with a narrow neck and protruding collar below.  Beneath the collar, the other end is sub-circular in section, but becomes narrow to an incomplete point.  This artefact is very worn and in poor condition with a dark green patina.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder