dejp3/bronze-age-objects-pas huggingface dataset:
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1200 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Yatton, North Somerset, North Somerset (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 69.24 mm
Thickness: 29.1 mm
Description: Cast copper alloy socketed axehead. The mouth of the socket is sub-rectangular in shape this has a moulded collar running around its circumference on the outside with the side loop beginning just below the moulding. Running down either side is casting flash. The main shaft of the axe is rectangular in cross section, with three pronounced moulded ridges that run down from the socket and converge just above the blade to form a V-shape. The blade is crescent shaped.











The casting of this axe is extremely poor, this combined with poor quality metal has resulted in heavy pitting over the whole artefact. This pitting would have occurred during the manufacturing process and would most likely be the result of bubbles forming in the mould during casting.  Considering the poor quality of the metal and it's weaken state due to poor casting, it is unlikely this axe was used as a tool, but instead may have been used ritualistically.











1200-800BC
Notes: 
Lower Claverham Rally find

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Greystoke, Eden, Cumbria (North West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 55 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight: 100.05 g
Description: Lower part of a cast cu-alloy socketed axe, probably of a Irish bag-shaped axe, dating from the Later Bronze Age, i.e. c.1000-800BC. Only the main body and blade of the axe remain: the mouth and loop are missing. The mouth would have been rectangular with one small loop at the side. The main body of the axe is undecorated, and the axe looks well worn and resharpened. The casting seams at the sides were flatted and smoothed. Irish or bag-shaped axes are one type of Late Bronze Age socketed axes: they are quite short/stumpy and are seldom decorated with ribs or a more elaborate pattern.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Exton, Winchester, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 11.4 mm
Thickness: 5 mm
Weight: 1.41 g
Description: 
A probable element from a tip of a Bronze Age cast copper-alloy spearhead. The fragment is now sub-trapezoidal in plan, with breaks at both ends, and broadly lozengiform in cross-section, with flattened side flanges. Both edges have been abraded. The metal has a variable dark-green patina with some pitting and small patches of lighter corrosion product. Unfortunately with so much of the artefact missing, it is very difficult to tell the phase of the Middle/Late Bronze Age to which it belongs.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1250 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Edlingham, Northumberland, Northumberland (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 48.28 mm
Thickness: 9.29 mm
Weight: 55.2 g
Description: 
Copper alloy undeveloped flat axehead from the late early bronze age. The objects has one squared end with rounded corners while the opposite end is completely curved and forms the blade portion of the axehead.











In good condition, although surface is very pitted and there are a number of small pieces that have broken off, particularly around the squared end. Very symmetrical in shape.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Dirk (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Warkworth, Northumberland, Northumberland (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 42.72 mm
Thickness: 2.05 mm
Weight: 13.1 g
Description: Late bronze age dirk hilt fragment measures 42.72mm long, 38.20mm in width, 2.05mm thick and weighs 13.1g. This fragment forms the flared end to the hilt and has been separated from the rest of the hilt, leaving a slightly curved break point at the end of the non-flared shaft. The surface is dark green in color and is pitted. The curved edge of the flared end has two sections that are missing due to breakage.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Razor (Bronze Age)
Period:  to  (-1150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Godshill, Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 43 mm
Thickness: 1 mm
Weight: 4.91 g
Description: Bronze Age razor. 1150-800 BC.











A copper-alloy leaf-shaped tanged razor dating from the early part of the Late Bronze Age. It is very worn and little remains of the actual blade. The leaf-shaped/pointed-oval blade is double-edged and has lost its point in antiquity. It is of thin section and has three longitudinal ridges at the centre. These ridges extend upwards into the tang, which is of thin rectangular section and tapers towards the top.











For similar examples on the PAS database, see WAW-878535, NCL-E94708, HAMP-E0D391 and NLM-EF1AB4.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Unidentified Object (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Morecambe, Lancaster, Lancashire (North West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 79 mm
Thickness: 0.5 mm
Weight: 13.85 g
Description: Unidentified object, probably dating from the Late Bronze Age c. 1000-800 BC. The object is broken in two large fragments and some small pieces are missing. Other than that, it appear complete. It has a long, narrow and slightly tapered tube with transverse linear groove decoration and with a blunted point at one end, and an open dome at the opposite end. This object is in two fragments and seems to have been broken off where the tube was perforated by a slit or hole. There is another small hole on the tube just underneath the round open end. Unfortunately, even though the object is complete, we do not its function. It is very likely that it was part of ta kit of Late Bronze Age feasting equipment, i.e. may have been part of a flesh hook or flesh fork. Dimensions: length: 79mm, width: 20mm, thickness: 0.5mm and weight: 13.85g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , Lancaster, Lancashire (North West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 177 mm
Thickness: 4 mm
Weight: 128.71 g
Description: An incomplete cast copper alloy sword dating from the Late Bronze Age, i.e. ca. 1000-800BC. Only the lower part of the blade and tip remain. The surface is smooth and the edge of the sword bevelled. There is a very slightly ridge along the centre of the blade and the cross-section is a rounded diamond-shape. The sword probably belonged to the Ewart Park metalwork assemblage or possibly the earlier Wilburton metalwork assemblage, but it is impossible to date it any more closely without the hilt present. Dimensions: lenght: 177mm, width: 34mm, thickness: 4mm and weight: 128.71g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1200)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Uttoxeter Rural, East Staffordshire, Staffordshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 101.4 mm
Thickness: 16.99 mm
Weight: 170 g
Description: Two parts of the same palstave axe, middle Bronze Age in date, circa 1500-1200 BC. The axe is broken in two approximately half way down its length and part of the butt is also missing. The blade is worn and damaged and the surface of the axe is also worn and pitted in places. It has a brown patina with green bronze corrosion in places. Together, the two fragments measure 101.40 mm in length. The axe widens from 22.5 mm at the butt end (ignoring the break) to 39.6 mm at the blade end. The axe has a septum for attachment of a haft and this is 17.15 mm wide. The septum terminates in a stop ridge, before the blade of the axe begins. There is no evidence that the axe ever had an attachment loop. Based on the rough surface at the break and a patina here that is inconsistent with the colour of the rest of the axe, this break appears to have occurred relatively recently.



Find not photographed.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -1400)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Stoneleigh, Warwick, Warwickshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 163 mm
Thickness: 28.91 mm
Weight: 321.4 g
Description: An early middle Bronze Age cast copper-alloy axehead of Acton Park phase, dating from circa 1500 to 1400 BC. The axehead is complete and well preserved, though it suffers from bronze corrosion in places and the surface is pitted in parts. It is unlooped and has a high flange. The septum of the flange is 17.55 mm wide. The flange ends in a stop ridge at 66.3 mm from the butt of the axe. After the stop ridge the blade is recessed, flattening and expanding to a crescentic terminal, 73.55 mm wide. The axehead is 28.91 mm thick at its thickest, at the stop ridge. It is 24.3 mm wide at the butt. It is 163 mm in length. This axehead is unlooped and the blade is undecorated. Slight denting of the blade may indicate use, as the damage does not appear to have occurred recently, though it could have occurred after deposition. The axe has a dark green patina where it survives, though where it is pitted it is a paler green or dull brown and there is a bright blue/green and reddy brown corrosion product in places.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1400 to -1275)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Mevagissey, Cornwall, Cornwall (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 60 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight: 121.68 g
Description: Cast copper alloy blade from a palstave or Middle Bronze Age flanged axe, sub-triangular in plan and sub-rectangular in section, tapering to a point at one end where the blade terminates. The ends of the central ribs survive on both faces of the blade, below the broken end, but the blade above this is missing so there is no evidence of the median ribs dividing a shield shape below the stop-ridge. The blade is broad and only slightly expanded and because the stop-ridge, flanges and possible side-loop are missing, it is difficult to date this fragment. The raised central rib is wide and pronounced, but only continues down about a third of the blade, which suggests that this palstave was probably made during the Taunton phase, c.1400-1275 BC.











Rohl & Needham (1998) illuatrate a similar examples of a palstave and a broken blade on page 129, Fig.30, Nos.145-6, which is dated to the Taunton phase.











Pearce (1983) illustrates similar 'South West looped', median ribbed axes from Colyton in Devon on Plate 28, Nos.217b & 217c, and from Chard and Chilton Polden in Somerset on Plates 71-2, Nos.619 & 632a.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Hatfield Heath, Uttlesford, Essex (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 44.8 mm
Weight: 26.14 g
Description: Middle to late Bronze Age spear fragment. Only the tip survives; it is triangular in plan with a lozenge cross section with slightly concave sides. There is a central raised rib along the length of the upper and lower faces. There is a very small recessed circle on the broken edge, from the end of the socket. It is 44.80mm long, 22.77mm wide, 11.12mm thick tapering to 10.49mm wide, 6.62mm thick. It weighs 26.14 grams.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Hothfield, Ashford, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 61.7 mm
Thickness: 3.7 mm
Weight: 68.96 g
Description: A Bronze Age cast copper alloy Socketed Axehead dating from 1000-800 BC. The axe has a square mouth with two mouth moldings around the outside. The sub rectangular loop prtrudes from the second, less pronounced moulding; it is 6.9mm wide at its widest with a minimum of 4.7mm. The blade is parallel for most of its length before expanding close to the complete cutting edge to a width of 29.5mm. The blade width is 22.4mm. There are casting seams still present on both side with no sign of trimming. The socket depth is 46.6mm. The axehad is 61.7mm long, 22.4mm wide, 3.7mm thick and weighs 68.96 grams.



This Axehead is of the South Eastern type, Class A1 - plain. This type date to the Ewart Park Phase; 1000-800 BC.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Awl (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to IRON AGE (-1500 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Hartley Wintney, Hart, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 57.25 mm
Weight: 6.77 g
Description: A cast copper alloy awl of Middle Bronze Age to Iron Age date. The awl is 57.25mm long and has a thickened centre. From the centre one end is rectangular in section and ends in a chisel-form terminal. The other end has a circular section and ends in a point.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period:  to  (-1500 to -1000)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Hartley Wintney, Hart, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 25.36 mm
Thickness: 9.42 mm
Weight: 18.57 g
Description: 
A cast copper alloy palstave axe butt of Middle to Late Bronze Age date. Only the tip of the butt survives with the beginnings of the side flanges. The smooth surfaces survive well.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Weapon (Bronze Age)
Period:  to  (-1500 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Hartley Wintney, Hart, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 42.7 mm
Thickness: 4.89 mm
Weight: 8.92 g
Description: 
A cast copper alloy blade of Bronze Age date. A short lanceolate section of the blade survives and is thickened at the centre of its section. The blade is very worn with little surviving of its original surface and of uncertain original extent. This may be the tip of a rapier.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (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: 28.07 mm
Thickness: 7.88 mm
Weight: 5.1 g
Description: A fragment of a cast copper alloy socketed spearhead. The fragment is the tip of the spearhead. The fragment is sub-triangular in plan, with a sub-lozenge shaped section. The lower edge is a broeak, but it is not a recent break. The edges of the blade are abraded and blunt  having lost their original blade edge. The surface of the spearhead has areas of a well developed dark brown shiny patina, otherwise the spearhead is abraded. The spear measures 28.07mm long, 12.26mm wide and 7.88mm thick. It weighs 5.1g.











The patina, and shape in section suggests the spearhead dates to the  Bronze Age. However, as the majority of the object is missing, which has  the diagnostic features such as side-loops, the dating cannot be  narrowed down further.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1750 to -1400)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Longdon, Lichfield, Staffordshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 131.5 mm
Weight: 219.4 g
Description: A cast copper-alloy palstave axehead of late early to early middle Bronze Age in date, from circa 1750 to1400 BC. The axehead is very worn suffers from corrosion and wear, making it difficult to identify a close type. However, the lack of any evidence for an attachment loop may suggest that this is an early type of palstave. The flanges are relatively low, the axehead measuring 19.1 mm thick at the flanges. There appears to be no stop ridge differentiating between the flange and the blade, but this may simply be invisible through wear. The blade is damaged and worn. The axe measures 131.5 mm in length. It is 23.9 mm wide at the attachment end, expanding to 50.05 mm wide at the blade. It weighs 219.4 grams.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Awl (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-3000 to -1200)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Kirby Bellars, Melton, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 50 mm
Thickness: 4 mm
Weight: 3.3 g
Description: Copper alloy Bronze Age awl. Central cross-section square, tapering to a point at both ends. The object is in fair condition, is 50mm long, 4mm wide, 4mm thick, and weighs 3.3g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Dagger (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: East Hanney, Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 62.7 mm
Thickness: 3.36 mm
Weight: 12.49 g
Description: A Late Bronze Age / Early Iron Age copper alloy dagger blade, circa 900-700BC
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to IRON AGE (-800 to -600)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, Denbighshire, Denbighshire (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 102.4 mm
Thickness: 36 mm
Weight: 306.3 g
Description: A cast copper alloy socketed axehead that in style, is consistent with the Sompting type with a prominent bulbous biconical collar with a horizontal moulding beneath. Sompting axes are typical of the Llyn Fawr phase, technically seen as the Bronze-Iron Age transition and sometimes now called the Earliest Iron Age (800-600BC). 

The axehead has a sub square section mouth. The fixing loop is then drawn from the lower moulding to extend 24mm down the side moulding with an inner diameter of 8mm.











The axe is undecorated with flat plain sides, no edge chamfer and broadly splayed to the cutting edge; the seam sides are wedge shape in plan and slightly convex with clear casting lines. Although there are numerous marks/gouges to the surface of the axe, they look to be due to the passage of time in the ground. There are no clear signs of use.











Coming to the damage to the axe; there is significant and extensive damage that appears to be contemporary with the date of the axe. One side of the blade has been struck very hard with a heavy round object such to cause the axe to bend and split on the opposing face. The edge of the blade has then also been struck several times with a similar heavy round object, leading to an almost denticulate edge with four clear strikes. The damage must have been deliberate and had rendered the axe useless.











The reason for the damage may only be speculated at; it may have been an unsatisfactory casting or perhaps prepared for votive use or simply come to the end of its useful life. The surface has a bright mottled green patina with some original smooth brownish surface patina still in evidence.
Notes: Plain examples in Schmidt & Burgess (1981) The Axes of Scotland and Northern England. Brendan O Connor has recently written a review of Llyn Fawr hoards in Britain In The Earlier Iron Age in Britain and the near Continent (eds C. Haselgrove & R. Pope), Oxbow 2007, with useful references to hoards of this time.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period:  to  (-1200 to -750)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Holt, Wrexham, Wrexham (Wales)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 22 mm
Thickness: 12.25 mm
Weight: 34.2 g
Description: A cast copper alloy Bronze Age axe fragment. With slightly flared blade tips, the body expands such that this fragment is probably be from a socketed axe, rather than the gentler expanding/narrower blade section on that of a flat axe or palstave. Therefore we may place this axe fragment as probable late Bronze Age (1200-750BC)











The surface is heavily corroded with a now rough dark brown patina. There are no signs of wear/use.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2150 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Lowick, East Northamptonshire, Northamptonshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 96.3 mm
Thickness: 0.98 mm
Weight: 272.7 g
Description: A cast copper-alloy flat axehead of early Bronze Age date, dating from circa 2150 to 1500 BC. The axehead is sub-triangular in plan with a wide curved blade which tapers to the butt, which has rounded shoulders. The axehead is 63.7 mm wide at the blade end, tapering to approximately 24 mm at the butt. It is lozengiform in section, slightly thinner at the edges than in the centre, and the eges are rounded. There is no evidence for any decoration, and there is no stop ridge or flanges for the haft, indicating that this is an early flat axe. It measures 96.3 mm long, 0.98 mm thick and weighs 272.7 grams. The axehead has a very dark green, almost black patina in places, however on most parts of the axe this surface has rubbed away, exposing a paler green patina. Flat axes are amongst the earliest metal objects discovered in Britain.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1250 to -975)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Callington, Cornwall, Cornwall (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 87 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight: 34.32 g
Description: Incomplete cast copper alloy leaf-shaped spearhead with broken blade and broken tapering socket, triangular in plan and oval in section. There is a hole in the side of the socket below the blade but this is not a peg hole or the remains of a side-loop, but the result of corrosion. There does appear to be a curved edge on one side of the socket at the edge of the break, which may be part of a peg hole, in which case it may date from the Penard phase (c.1250-1125 BC) which is at the end of the Middle Bronze Age and has some transitional artefacts, such as early pegged spearheads, or the Wilburton phase (c.1125-975 BC) which is the earliest Late Bronze Age phase (Dr. Richard Davis pers comm).



Pearce (1983) in Part (ii) illustrates two similar examples on page 565, Plate 4, No.45 from St Erth, and No.48a, from Wheal Virgin streamworks, Pentewan, which also have broken sockets and points and therefore are not precisely dated.



There are also two pegged spearheads from the hoard found at Kilnhurst, South Yorkshire (Smith 1958), which are similar but a little larger. This hoard is dated to the Penard phase because of the associated objects (Dr. Richard Davis forthcoming).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Healeyfield, County Durham, County Durham (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 118.37 mm
Diameter: 24.44 mm
Thickness: 8.34 mm
Weight: 70.4 g
Description: Cast bronze side-looped, socketed spearhead from the early Middle Bronze Age, c.1500-1150 BC.
















Mostly complete with the tip missing and worn blade edges. The blade would have been leaf-shaped and has a raised midrib on both sides running from top to bottom. The socket widens towards the end. It has two small side-loops about half way down. These are rectangular and have been cast integrally with the spear. The socket is slightly out of shape with the edge being uneven, however it is mostly circular in section and hollow. Nothing of the wooden shaft remains.
















Side-looped spearheads are Greenwell and Brewis' Class IV and date to the early Middle Bronze Age. They are likely to belong to the Acton Park 2, Taunton (Cemmaes) or Penard metalwork assemblages, corresponding to Needham's (1997) Period 5, c. 1500-1150BC.
Notes: 
Peter Reavill (FLO Shropshire and Herefordshire) comments that the damage to the base may be deliberate, perhaps to do with the Bronze Age tradition of 'killing' items before ritually depositing them.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1020 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Rothley, Charnwood, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 98 mm
Thickness: 37 mm
Weight: 188.6 g
Description: Late Bronze Age Copper alloy socketed axe (Type Southern English Ribbed, Class B) with a single mouth and three ribs (Needham 1990, 33, fig. 4,23). Most of the axe is matte red/brown except from three areas where the skin is damaged revealing porous matte metal.The probable blade corner curves are missing and the existing edges are chipped and worn.
Notes: 
Part of a hoard consisiting of two axes, a palstave and a complete two piece mould

Subsequent action: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1140 to -1020)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Rothley, Charnwood, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 145 mm
Thickness: 26.5 mm
Weight: 444 g
Description: Late Bronze Age Copper alloy looped palstave (Type Late Palstave) with a triangular flange and a straight sided body running down to a flared , chipped blade (Smith 1959,177, Fig 7,4). The surface is mud coated with the shiny red/brown skin chipped in places to reveal porous matte green areas on the flange top and cutting edge.
Notes: Part of the Rothley Hoard other items can be found at LEIC-A665D7 LEIC-4F6B



and LEIC-A6BB51
Subsequent action: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-900 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Shottesbrooke, Windsor and Maidenhead, Windsor and Maidenhead (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 66.36 mm
Weight: 80 g
Description: 
A large part of a socketed axe of late Bronze Age date consisting of the blade and part of the socket - about half the length of the axe survives below a jagged break. The cross section is octagonal with precise corners between the facets. The fragment is in good condition although the blade is pitted and there appears to be active bronze disease within the socket. Filing striations are present around the casting seam.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Cranham, Havering, Greater London Authority (London)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 55.52 mm
Weight: 49.5 g
Description: Late Bronze Age damaged and incomplete cast copper alloy socketed axehead. Only the lower half of the body and blade end survive. There is a worn break around the socket. It is sub-rectangular in plan increasing in width sharply at the blade end. The cutting edge is slightly curved and worn. It is 55.52mm long, 25.77mm by 17.29mm wide across the body and 35.03mm wide across the blade end. The socket wall is 2.56mm thick. It weighs 49.5 grams.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Dagger (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1250 to -975)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: St. Teath, Cornwall, Cornwall (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 45 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Weight: 29.55 g
Description: Cast copper alloy fragment of a dagger, shield-shaped in plan, plano-convex in profile and triangular in section, with a worn central mid-rib, tapering towards the tip of the dagger. The point end of the blade is rounded and the opposite edge broken off so that the rest of the blade and hilt, which would have all been cast as one piece, are missing. The sides of the blade come to a point and are slightly bevelled. The pronounced central ridge running up and down the length of the blade, rounded but not flattened in section, resembles the daggers and swords from the Penard (c.1250-1125 BC) and Wilburton (c.1125-975 BC) phases of the Bronze Age. But the mid-rib is only on one side of the blade which suggests that this is a fragment from a dagger blade, and more likely to date from the Penard phase, when daggers have been found associated with Ballintober swords.











Pearce (1985) illustrates a small sword with Ballintober associations on page 602, Plate 41, No.314a from Washfield in Devon which is dated to the Penard phase.











Pearce (1984) illustrates a tanged knife with a central rib on page 44, Plate 12 from Isleham, Cambridgeshire which was found with a Wilburton sword.






Needham & Rohl (1998) illustrates a Penard Taplow type sword on page 133, Fig.35, No.237, and a Wilburton type sword on page 134, Fig.36, Letter B, both with similar slightly ogival profiles in section, but does not illustrate any daggers from the period.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Penannular Ring (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to IRON AGE ( to )
Material: Gold 
Found: West Wycombe, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Diameter: 13.98 mm
Thickness: 3.9 mm
Weight: 7.1 g
Description: A small gold penannnular ring dating from the Bronze Age and possibly used as ring money, as suggested by other similar artefacts. The ring is roughly circular in section and is very thick - it measures 3.9mm. It is assumed that the ring has a very high gold content.
Notes: The finder stated that this object was found in 1985, and therefore would be covered by the Treasure Trove laws and not the 1996 Treasure Act. It was recommended that the finder contact his local FLO for further information.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Southery, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Norfolk (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 41 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight: 12.11 g
Description: Bronze Age copper-alloy tip from a probable spearhead, 41mm long, 11mm wide and 9mm thick. The object is in fair condition and weighs 12.11g. It is triangular, with a distinct bevelled line visible in places on the edge of both faces, although the edges are very worn. It has a lozenge-shaped cross-section and it has a fully circular void in its broken underside.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Sword (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1020 to -800)
Material: Copper 
Found: Seagrave, Charnwood, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 33 mm
Thickness: 4 mm
Description: Bronze age copper alloy sword fragment, 33mm long, 27mm wide and 4 mm thick. The object is in fair condition and weighs ?? The object is sub triangular in form and is slighly rhomboid in section. each side tapers inwards slightly and tapers in width to a blade edge. Above this the object has a recessed sub-rectangular protrusion, the lower edges of which are formed by the incomplete circular fixing holes which would have secured the blade to its handle.



The size of the object suggests it is a fragment of a Ewart Park phase sword.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Turville, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 48.66 mm
Diameter: 14.71 mm
Thickness: 1.61 mm
Weight: 22.02 g
Description: An incomplete cast copper alloy spearhead of Middle Bronze Age date (c. 1500-1150 BC). The spearhead retains only the length of the cone-shaped socket and two side loops, and is missing the entire upper section of the spearhead including the blades.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  ( to )
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: SHOREHAM BY SEA, Adur, West Sussex (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 47.5 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight: 71.14 g
Description: Cast copper alloy flat or palstave axe dating to the Bronze Age, (2150-800BC). The object is incomplete and is rectangular in cross-section. The blade expands outwards and has a sharp cutting edge which is 1mm thick. Each surface of the object is very pitted and has areas of brown and green patination. The axe measures 47.5mm in length, 50mm in width and is 9mm thick and weighs 71.14g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Langham, North Norfolk, Norfolk (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 54.03 mm
Weight: 110.5 g
Description: Late Bronze Age cast copper alloy socketed axe fragment, circa 1000-800BC. It is broken across the body with the blade end surviving. The socket end is rectangular in cross section, measuring 21.16mm by 4.65mm. The socket wall is 5.08mm thick. There is some damage to the cutting edge. The axehead is 54.03mm long, 43.76mm wide across the cutting edge, 30.54mm wide across the body. It weighs 110.5 grams.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Ring (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to ROMAN (-1150 to 400)
Material: Copper alloy 
Discovery method: Metal detector
Diameter: 17.4 mm
Thickness: 4.9 mm
Weight: 2.58 g
Description: Copper alloy








Ring fragment. About half of a cast round-section ring, slightly flattened buy hammering on its upper and lower surfaces. One end is broken, the other flat, apparently as made, suggesting this to be a fragment of an originally penannular object. The object is too small and thick to qualify as a member of the common class of harness rings or brooches, and is possibly a fragment of a Prehistoric object, such as a penannular base metal ring, or the base metal core of a ring of precious metal (though if the latter, no trace of precious metal remains). Suggested date: Later Bronze Age to Roman, 1150 BC-400AD.










Diameter (of ring): 17.4mm, Thickness: 4.9mm, Weight: 2.58gms
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Penkridge, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 109.2 mm
Thickness: 41 mm
Weight: 261.5 g
Description: A cast copper-alloy axehead of late Bronze Age date (circa 1000-800 BC). The axhead is complete and suffers minimal damage. Where damage it occurs it is chiefly along the blade, although there are some other scuff marks elswhere. The uneven patina along much of the blade suggests that some of this damage occurred whilst the object was in the ground.



The axehead measures 109.2 mm long and 41.3 mm wide. It weighs 261.5 grams. It tapers from 41 mm thick at the socketed end to 2 mm thick at the blade. The axe is hollow, with a socket for attachment of a haft. The socket is sub-rectangular in shape and measures 41 mm by 41 mm. The axehead is waisted, tapering slightly from the socket to the centre, and then flaring again to the blade. A raised collar runs around the axehead at approximately 15 mm from the socket. On each side four decorative ribs emanate from this collar, running for approximately 33 mm in the direction of the blade. On one edge, situated just after the collar, there is a semi-circular moulded attachment loop. On each edge there is a casting seam which runs down the length of the axe.



The axehead has a fairly even dark green patina with patches of paler green copper corrosion in places. This axe fits within the socketed and faceted axe typology; specifically into the division type Meldreth which is broadly dated to the Late Bronze Age. It is associated with the later phases of the Wilburton metalworking traditions (phase X) and earlier phases of the Ewart Park tradition (phase XII). This corresponds to Needham's (1996) Period 6-7 circa 1000-800 CAL. BC. Broadly these forms of faceted axes have a distribution on the Eastern side of Britain and suggest a southern British metalworking tradition (cf Schmidt & Burgess).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Rapier (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1300 to -1050)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Grange De Lings, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 75.24 mm
Thickness: 5.98 mm
Weight: 43.2 g
Description: 
A fragmentary rapier of Middle Bronze Age date. The object consists of the butt end and the blade which is broken. The attachment end is slightly curved and in each corner is a rivet hole; one of the holes still contains a flat-headed copper-alloy rivet. The attachment end is abraded one of the holes is incomplete. Below it expands, with stepped shoulders, to the widest point. Beyond the blade narrows gradually, still narrowing at the break, though increasingly less steeply. The edges of the blade are bevelled on both sides; the cross-section at the break has the appearance of an oval with winged protrusions.The artefact perhaps belongs to the Penard metalworking phase.

Notes: 
This object was recorded at a rally. The description and photograph may not therefore meet the usual standard of recording.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Blade (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1300 to -1000)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Stagsden, Bedford, Bedford (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 18.1 mm
Height: 2.2 mm
Weight: 2.3 g
Description: 
A fragment from a bladed object, possibly a rapier of Middle Bronze Age date. The object consists of the abraded blade tip, that tapers to a rounded point. All of the edges have been abraded and broken to a greater or lesser extent. The break is broadly straight. The edges of the blade are bevelled while a central section is flat; the cross-section at the break has the appearance of an elongated hexagon. Where it survives the metal has a dark-brown patina; underlying this it is a corroded mid-green colour. One surface has been iron stained.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Awl (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Alton, East Hampshire, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 72 mm
Thickness: 5.2 mm
Weight: 9.09 g
Description: 
A cast copper-alloy awl or tracer of possible Bronze Age date. The artefact has a thin body with square cross-section that tapers to a point at one end. At the other the 'tang' narrows to a rectangular cross-section. Such construction is typical of prehistoric awls which are thought to date from the late Bronze Age. The object has a variable mid/dark-green patina with some striations through corrosion.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period:  to  (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 160 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight: 395.5 g
Description: Cast copper alloy palstave Axe head typical of forms produced in the Middle bronze Age (1500 -1150 BC).











It has a narrow, square butt, low tapering flanges and a slight lip on the stop-ridge. The body is divided by a single midrib. The crescental blade is flared. The casting seams are clearly visible on the sides and there is no scar suggesting that a loop was present. Roughly 'H-shaped' in section.











The axe is 170mm long. The cresent blade is 70mm wide. The blade tapers down to the handle, which is 20mm wide. The side is 26mm thick and has an eliptical shape in plan.






The defination of a 'Palstave' axe is generally accepted to be an axe hafted by means of a forked wooden handle kept in place with high, cast flanges and stop bar. as such, this axe fits the category of palstave axe of Middle to late Bronze Age date.











A brown patina on the butt and between the mid-rib is representative of its age, and it is in very good condition.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -950)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Brailes, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 21.1 mm
Thickness: 7.29 mm
Weight: 12.3 g
Description: A fragment of a copper alloy palstave. The portion which remains is the butt of the palstave. The butt is a sub-trapezoid in plan, with one broken edge which is not too recent a break. The section is a rectangle with slight lips at each corner forming an almost 'I' section. In profile the butt is triangular, thereby tapering to a blunt edge at the terminal. On one side face the casting seam is partially visible. The fragment is in fair condition with an incomplete shiny dark brown patina. It measures 21.1mm long, 24.65mm wide and 7.29mm thick. It weighs 12.3g.


The fragment is probably dated to the middle Bronze Age (c. -1500 to c. -950).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to ROMAN (-2500 to 410)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Humshaugh, Northumberland, Northumberland (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 22.5 mm
Thickness: 8.34 mm
Weight: 5.6 g
Description: A fragment of copper alloy spearhead, of possible Bronze Age to Roman date.



The spearhead is leaf shaped with a raised central rib that is circular in section. It is green in colour.



The form best matches spearhead of Bronze Age date (e.g. Moore, C.N., Rowlands, M. (1972) Bronze Age Metalwork in the Salisbury Museum), but all other objects from the field were of Roman date, perhaps indicating a Roman leaf-shaped spearhead.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Blade (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: , Epping Forest, Essex (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 28 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 7.24 g
Description: Fragment of a cast copper alloy blade of mid to late Bronze Age date. Probably from a dagger similar to NARC-7A1368.











The blade widens slightly at one end suggesting that it was flaring towards the hilt. The wider end is 3mm thick and lentoid in section. The fragment both narrows and gets thinner towards the opposite end. The sides are flat.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1700 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Kirklington-cum-Upsland, Hambleton, North Yorkshire (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 137.42 mm
Thickness: 14.59 mm
Description: Bronze Age flanged axe, from the Aylesford and Arreton periods, c. 1700-1500 BC.











The handle is slightly narrower at the butt than where it meets the blade (the central point has a width of 31.09mm). The side flanges are low and are at their highest in the central point of the handle. At this central point the handle is also thickest, with a small raised horizontal ridge just visible. The blade is semi-circular and at its widest point measures 84.91mm wide. It still narrows to a thin cutting edge all along the blade edge.











It is almost complete with just the butt and blade edges being slightly uneven. It has a mainly even brown patina although there are a few small patches of green (corrosion). On both sides of the blade and at the top of the haft there are small hollows, possibly from problems during casting but possibly also corrosion damage.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flanged Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1275)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Sawbridgeworth, East Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire (Eastern)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Description: Middle Bronze Age 'later short-flanged axe' of Type Ulrome assigned to the c. 1500-1275 BC Taunton Phase (Schmidt and Burgess 1981, 94-8, pls 43-7 nos 539-604).



reference



Schmidt, P.K. and Burgess, C.B., 1981. The Axes of Scotland and Northern England (PrÃ¤historische Bronzefunde 9.7) (Munich).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Awl (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-1150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Weston under Wetherley, Warwick, Warwickshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 54.86 mm
Thickness: 6.07 mm
Weight: 7.7 g
Description: A cast copper-alloy awl which has a slender body which is circular in section from the mid point to a blunt tip. This portion is slightly swollen in width at the centre. The other half ofthe awl is rectagnular in section and tapers in depth to a blunt point. This half is probably the tang, and the opposite terminal is the working element of the tool. The awl is a slightly pitted surface with traces of a mid green/grey coloured surface. It measures 54.86mm long, 6.5mm wide, 6.07mm thick and weighs 7.7g.






The awl probably dates to the later Bronze Age period: -1150 to -800.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Melton Warwick, Melton, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 40 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight: 8.52 g
Description: Bronze Age copper alloy spearhead fragment, 40mm ong, 26mm wide, 10mm thick at the base, 2mm thick at the tip and weighs 8.52g. It consists of a the broken tip of a spearhead with a jagged broken lower surface. It is triangular in form and ovoid in section with a triangular shaped, circular sectioned hollow shaft. This is flanked by flat curving blades which have a bevelled edge,
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Metal Working Debris (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to IRON AGE (-1000 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Silverdale, Lancaster, Lancashire ()
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 12 mm
Thickness: 7 mm
Weight: 1.04 g
Description: Copper/tin/lead- alloy metal working debris of Late Bronze Age-Early Iron Age date, i.e1000-700 BC. Dimension: length: 12mm, width: 7mm, thickness: 7mm, weight: 1.04g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to  (-2150 to -1750)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Colemore and Priors Dean, East Hampshire, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 52.4 mm
Thickness: 4.15 mm
Weight: 19.07 g
Description: 
An incomplete, worn and pitted copper-alloy small Early Bronze Age small flat axehead. In plan, from the rounded butt end the width remains the same until about the centre of the axe when it begins to gently expand to the blade end; the butt end is damaged and broken due to an old break. In section, the axe gradually thickens slightly towards the centre but there is no ridge/stop or flanges. The blade edge and tips are rounded and worn. The artefact has a mid-green patina; the pitting is lighter green.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1550 to -1400)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Tritlington and West Chevington, Northumberland, Northumberland (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 154.21 mm
Height: 22.45 mm
Thickness: 13.99 mm
Description: A case bronze palstave axehead of the Middle Bronze Age, c 1550-1400 BC.






The palstave belongs to the Acton group of metalwork, and is a nearly complete specimen. The entire axehead is 154.21mm in length, with a maximum width across the flanges measuring 42.81mm. The blade expands out from the centre of the head. The edge is cresent shaped, with a breadth of 47.45mm from tip to tip. The axe is thickest at the base of the blade, 13.99 and 1.38mm thick at the worn and incmomplete edge of the butt. The flanges expand from the top and bottom of the septum in a sub-triangular fashion, peaking nearer to the blade than the butt. In depth, each flange measures 18.38 from the septum to outer edge. There is a thickening separating the septum from the blade, but no truly formed stop. The butt is slightly rounded. The object has an even grey-green-brown patina.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spearhead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1100)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Rudge, Shropshire, Shropshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 55.1 mm
Thickness: 10.1 mm
Weight: 13.9 g
Description: A fragment of a cast copper-alloy of probable Middle Bronze Age date.



It is in poor condition, suffering badly from wear, and only the tip survives. The spear is lozenge shaped in section with a pronounced mid rib and flat wings.



The remainder of the spear measures 55.1 mm long, 15.9 mm wide, 10.1 mm thick and weighs 13.9 grams.



It has a brown patina, although traces of the original metal surface survive in small parts as a dark green.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder