dejp3/bronze-age-objects-pas huggingface dataset:
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-950 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Beckford, Wychavon, Worcestershire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 48.38 mm
Thickness: 16.05 mm
Weight: 93.5 g
Description: Bronze Age (c. 950 to 800 BC) socketed axe: The blade portion of the copper alloy axe remains with the broken edge traversing the axe revealing a short portion of the socket. The blade has straight sides and only slightly flared blade tips. The cutting edge is blunt, and is slightly convex. The casting seam is visible on the sides, forming a slight triangular profile. One face of the axe has three parallel ribs visible, the other face has traces of these ribs, but they are not as clear. The socket is rectangular with rounded corners, but is off-centre therefore making the wall on one face very thin.



The surface of the axe has been over cleaned and has what are through to be recent scratches across the surface. There are two small patches of a heavy dark brown coloured patina, whereas the remaining surface is a mottled mid to dark green and brown colour. Despite the over-cleaning the axe is in a stable condition.



The axe measures 48.38mm in length, 41.79mm in width and 16.05mm at the thickest point, and weighs 93.5g.



The axe dates to the Ewart Park phase, and, due to the three parallel ribs extending to the blade face, is possibly a South Welsh or South Western type dating to c. 950 - 800 BC. Similarly decorated axes are illustrated in Savory (1980, Figure 25).



Savory, H.N. 1980 Guide Catalogue of the Bronze Age Collections National Museum of Wales: Cardiff
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Beckford, Wychavon, Worcestershire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 42.78 mm
Weight: 7.8 g
Description: Middle or Late Bronze Age date (1500 - 800BC) socketed spear (spearhead): The copper alloy spearhead consists of the upper portion of the spear, being with only 11.24mm of the socket remaining. In section the spearhead is has a sub-circular tube with short, abraded triangular facets, one on opposite sides which are the abraded blades. The tip is missing and here the spear is a sub-square in section. The spearhead fragment is broadly sub-triangular in plan. The lower portion of the spearhead has been lost and the break is too high to include the cast side loops. The break at the base of the spearhead includes the top of the socket which is circular. The break at this point is not recent. There are no visible areas of cast or incised decoration on the spearhead. The surface of the spearhead has traces of a dark green patina, otherwise the surface is pitted and heavily abraded. 



The spearhead measures 42.78mm in length, 6.40mm in width, and weighs 7.8g.



It is likely that the spearhead can be attributed to the Middle Bronze Age; specifically the second phase of Acton Park (2), Taunton (Cemmaes) or Pennard metalworking traditions. These phases correspond with Needham's Period 5 (c. 1500 - 1150BC). However, many of the diagnostic characteristics (such as loops, peg holes and blade shape) have been lost and so a wider date range is suggested above.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Beckford, Wychavon, Worcestershire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 71.58 mm
Weight: 16.2 g
Description: Middle or Late Bronze Age date (1500 - 1150 BC) socketed spear (spearhead): The copper alloy spearhead consists of two fragments of the lower half of the spearhead. The socket is incomplete, but tapers towards the blade. The socket is broken into two portions and has further fragments which are missing. On the exterior surface there is a trace of a side loop, the loop on the other side is completely missing. There is a fragment of the blade on either side of the socket, but the upper edge is broken, and this break is not recent, but the surface of the break does not have the same patina as the outer surface of the spear. There are no visible areas of cast or incised decoration on the spearhead. The surface of the spearhead has a dark shiny brown coloured patina.



The spearhead fragments measure 47.15mm in length and 12.16mm width/thickness. The second smaller piece measures 24.43mm in length and 12.12mm in width. The spearhead weighs 16.2g combined. Combined length is 71.58mm.



Similar looped spearheads have been classified by Margaret Ehrenberg as Class IV dated to the Middle Bronze Age specifically the second phase of Acton Park (2), Taunton (Cemmaes) or Pennard metalworking traditions. These phases correspond with Needham's Period 5 (c. 1500 - 1150 BC).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Chisel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1150 to -850)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: West Meon, Winchester, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 37.1 mm
Thickness: 4.1 mm
Weight: 8.12 g
Description: A fragment of a Late Bronze Age cast copper-alloy tanged chisel (c. 1150 BC-c. 800 BC).



The chisel has a broken tapering tang which is sub-rectangular in cross-section and has a length of c. 14.1mm. This meets a collar which is sub-oval in cross-section which isi 10.4mm wide. Below the collar the blade flares in a trapezoidal shape before terminating in an old breal . The maximum width of the blade is 11.1mm wide.



The fragment is 37.1mm long, 121mm wide, 4.1mm thick and weighs 8.12 grams.



Similar shaped Bronze Age chisels have been recorded on The Portable Antiquities Scheme database. For example, see finds: BH-49EAD8; BH-E78067; DOR-F18347; DUR-5BADA1; DUR-BB5320; HAMP-488F45; IOW-2182C4; LEIC-25C336; NMGW-B23071; NMS-769173; SF-11EB51; WAW-F5FF52; WILT-5D7742 and WILT-846EE0.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Blade (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1600 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Bottesford, Melton, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 35 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 8.25 g
Description: Bronze age copper alloy blade fragment, 35mm long, 21mm wide and 3mm thick with a weight of 8.25grams. It is very worn and pitted. It has an eliptical cross section and is sub rectangular in form with no obvious complete edges.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Great Waltham, Chelmsford, Essex ()
Discovery method: Metal detector
Diameter: 24 mm
Description: Possibly a fragment from the blade end of a Late Bronze Age chisel or the butt of a palstave. The object is wedge shaped, with the narrow (blade?) edge slightly rounded due to wear. As the object is incomplete, it is difficult ot identify accurately, though the patina and shape would suggest a Late Bronze Age date.



Diameter: 24mm.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Stockton, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 30.95 mm
Thickness: 13.11 mm
Weight: 65.88 g
Description: A fragment of a cast copper-alloy Late Bronze Age axe (c. 1000-800 BC), probably a South-Eastern type of the Ewart Park metalworking phase. The axe fragment (triangular in section) consists the convex cutting edge of the object and a small portion of the sides as the edges flare inwards slightly, though the mid and upper sections of the body have been broken away in post-depositional damage which leaves only the base of the socket still extant. The object is preserved in relatively poor condition, with an uneven greenish patina interspersed with patches of brown covering most of its surfaces. It measures 52.27mm wide at the cutting edge, 39.11mm wide at its broken end, 30.95mm long and 13.11mm thick at its thickest point. It weighs 65.88 grammes.
Notes: Comparisons for this fragment can be found in Savory 1980, fig. 24, nos. 184-185 and 189, which are also dated to the Late Bronze Age
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1100 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Sedgefield, County Durham, County Durham (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 29.18 mm
Thickness: 3.44 mm
Weight: 15.7 g
Description: A copper alloy fragment of a possible socketed Spearhead of Bronze Age date (1100-800 BC). The fragment is from the socketed portion of the object and has a steeply inward curving section.



The metal is dark green in colour with a predominantly smooth patina and some minor areas of lighter green corrosion.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1900 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Bishop Auckland, County Durham, County Durham (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 21.45 mm
Thickness: 11.32 mm
Weight: 39.9 g
Description: A fragment of a copper-alloy axehead or palstave of Bronze Age date (1500- 800 BC). The fragment is the cutting edge of a blade which is a tapering, curved D shaped in plan. The main body of the object is missing due to an old and abraded break which runs the width of the object.



There is a slight flaring to either side of the cutting edge which hints at the original form of the object which may have been a flared flat axe such as CORN-5F6661, CORN-7DBCCC or a palstave such as LVPL-1FDB7C or WMID-D67E95



The metal is dark brown in colour with a smooth and uncorroded patina.



The breaks are old and abraded.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2350 to -2050)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Minster-on-Sea, Swale, Kent (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 43.76 mm
Thickness: 10.62 mm
Weight: 133 g
Description: A highly worn fragment of copper-alloy flat axehead of Early Bronze Age date (2350-2050 BC).



The axehead survives as the splayed crescent blade and part of the body of the axe. the blade is very worn and one side of the crescent is stunted. In profile it is broadly lentoid, with slight tapering edges. The butt is missing due to an old and abraded break however what remains tapers inward toward the butt end.The metal is brown in colour with areas of light green corrosion. The object has a heavily pitted green and mottled brown patinated surface.



Measurements: 43.76mm long, 63.21mm wide, 10.62mm thick and 132g in weight.



This axehead resembles those described as coming from the first phases of the Early Bronze Age and is comparable to (although not containing all the attributes of Migdale axes (many of these tend to have narrower butts which flare at the cutting edge).These axes all fit within the earliest phases of metal working in Britain, metalworking stage II, which corresponds to Needham's (1996) Period 2 circa 2350- 2050 CAL.BC.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Horse Trapping (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to IRON AGE (-1150 to -300)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Rimington, Ribble Valley, Lancashire (North West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Diameter: 40 mm
Weight: 27.8 g
Description: Late Bronze/Early Iron Age copper ring dating between 1150-300BC. The object is probably part of horse trappings possibly used for reins (terret ring). It is circular in shape with a round section. The diameter is 40mm and the weight 27.80g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1150 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Letcombe Regis, Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 28 mm
Thickness: 2.4 mm
Weight: 1.7 g
Description: A tip fragment of a late Bronze Age axe, it has a curved blade with probable small wings. The fragment has what looks to be the bottom of the socket within the centre of the broken region. Hence, this is most likely to be c. 1000 - 800 BC similar to the Llyn Fawr phase.



The surface is mottled mid-green with brown staining.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1300)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Warsop, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Agricultural or drainage work
Length: 158 mm
Thickness: 34.5 mm
Description: A complete copper alloy Middle Bronze Age palstave axehead (c.1500-c.1300 BC). The axehead is a Group I (shield-pattern) type from the Acton Park phase of Bronze Age metalwork, distinguished by its shield-shaped decoration below the stop ridge. Overall, the palstave axehead measures c.158mm long, 71.2mm wide and 34.5mm thick. It weighs over 500g (the object was recorded at an event and the only scales available measured up to 500g).
Notes: This object was recorded at the University of Nottingham's 3rd Annual Nottinghamshire Local History and Archaeology Day. It was brought in on behalf of the finder and was not lent to the FLO for full recording. As a result, this record may not meet the normal standards of the PAS.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Finger Ring (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1400 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Axbridge, Sedgemoor, Somerset (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Height: 14.94 mm
Diameter: 28.48 mm
Thickness: 4.27 mm
Weight: 23.74 g
Description: A copper alloy finger ring of Middle Bronze Age date (c. 1400-1150 BC). The ring consists of a single copper alloy bar, oval in cross-section which has been coiled to create the finger ring. It now has one complete loop and two incomplete loops. It appears to be complete, although both terminals exhibt traces of damage. The ring has a smooth dark green patina, with occasional pitting.



This example is similar to a number of coiled rings found in a Middle Bronze Age hoard found in Sussex, recorded under SUSS-C5D042. Similar rings have been found in the Mecklenburg area of North Germany suggesting close associations with the Continent. A brief period in the Middle Bronze Age is marked by the occurrence, in hoards, of tools and bronze ornaments which owe their inspiration to types current in north Germany and Scandinavia from c.1400 BC. These include torcs, coiled finger rings, ribbed bracelets, knobbed sickles, and square-mouthed socketed axes. This influx seems to have given a boost to the native bronze industry.



Other similar objects recorded on the database include: WILT-6F5708; NCL-DA41F5; LANCUM-A4E905 & SWYOR-3FF370. 



It measures 28.48mm in diameter (internal diameter 19.25mm), is 4.27mm thick, 14.94mm high and weighs 23.74g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Dagger (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Kingston Deverill, Wiltshire, Wiltshire (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 67.88 mm
Thickness: 2.56 mm
Weight: 13.55 g
Description: An incomplete cast copper alloy Mid to Late Bronze-Age dagger blade. It consists of a small fragment of the hilt, with the remnants of two rivet holes, with apparently most of the blade. It is sub lense shaped in cross section, with a slightly emphasised central rib on both sides of the blade and tear drop shape in form, tapering to a rounded point. It is difficult to be certain how much, if any, of the blade is missing. It is 67.88mm in length, 28.00mm in width at its widest and weighs 13.55g.The surface has a dark green patina and shows abraded patches. This dagger is perhaps typical of the Penard phase of the Bronze Age (1275 BC to c. 1140 BC). It is very similar to a Grp III rapier, or more likely, a dirk.



A similar item can be seen at - WMID-D54E37
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Metal Working Debris (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2150 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Scotforth, Lancaster, Lancashire ()
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 48 mm
Description: Fragment of copper alloy found in a burnt mound dating at least to the Early to mid Bronze Age 2150 to 1150BC. The copper is not sheet metal and appears to have been cast as one piece as part of a larger object. It is not yet known what this object was. It should be possible to refine the dating once the charcoal samples are dated from the burnt mound which was the subject of an evaluation associated with treasure case 2016 T518 database number LANCUM-A5AF1B. The length is 48mm, the width is 35mm.
Subsequent action: Undergoing further examination at a museum
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2300 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Copmanthorpe, York, York (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 63.4 mm
Thickness: 10.7 mm
Weight: 103 g
Description: A fragment from a cast copper alloy, flat axehead of the early Bronze Age, dating from about 2300-1500 BC. Only the butt of the axe survives. It is narrow, measuring 23.9mm wide and 5mm thick. The axe has fairly straight sides and flares to 34.8mm wide and 10.7mm thick where it is broken. The break is patinated, though possibly not to the same extent as the rest of the axe. Not enough of the axe survives to be able to classify it precisely. It is 63.4mm long and 103g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2200 to -1900)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Letcombe Regis, Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 78 mm
Thickness: 6.3 mm
Weight: 71.7 g
Description: A copper alloy Early Bronze Age flat axe head, dating to 2200-1900BC. The axe head is trapezoidal in shape with a curved broad butt and blade. There is no significant flare to the blade end. The axe had a lenticular cross-section and has signs of wear to both the blade and butt ends. The butt end is 17.7 x 2.6 mm, that widens to 33.58 x 3.37 at the blade. The axe head appears to be of a broad butt type, probably a 'Migdale' type (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981, p 35-44).



One surface has a smooth dark green patina with some erosion to the edge, the other side is heavily pitted with a mottled mid-green patina.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2350 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Ponteland, Northumberland, Northumberland (North East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 99.47 mm
Thickness: 9.08 mm
Weight: 151.8 g
Description: A cast copper alloy flat axe dating to the Early-Mid Bronze Age (2350 - 1500 BC). The axe is narrow with straight but tapering sides and there are no signs of a stop ridge. The sides of the axe are very slightly thickened, but it does not have flanges.



The metal is dark green in colour with a heavily pitted and corroded patina.



Length: 99.47mm, Width: 35.8mm, Thickness (blade): 2.91mm, Thickness (Mid-section): 9.08mm, Weight: 151.8g.



The axe probably fits into the earliest phases of metal working in Britain, metalworking stage I-II, which corresponds to Needham's (1996) Period 1-2 circa 2500- 2050 CAL. BC, or slightly later.



Similar examples can be seen on the Portable Antiquities Database: SWYOR-9EC7C9 WAW-049216, LANCUM-E3C336 and SUR-25F712
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spearhead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Albrighton, Shropshire, Shropshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 56.3 mm
Thickness: 6.5 mm
Weight: 9.7 g
Description: An incomplete copper alloy, tip from a spear head, of probably the Middle Bronze Age period, dating from c. BC 1500 to c. BC 1150.



The object is broadly triangular in plan and broadly lozenge shaped in cross section. The object has a rounded point at the top, which seems to have sustained some damage. From the point the sides of the object taper out, ensuring the object is wider at the base. There is a central raised ridge running vertically down the middle of the spear head, this appears on both sides. There is an old horizontal break at the base of the object, probably indicating the spear was broken in antiquity. There is damge to both edges of the blade.



It measures 56.3 mm in length, 13.9 mm wide (base), 5.4 mm wide (tip) and 6.5mm thick. It weighs 9.7 g.



The spear head is a mid green colour, with an uneven surface patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of some of the original surface detail. This object has lost most of it's diagnostic features and as a result further classification is difficult. However similar spearhead fragments have been recorded on the database, including SWYOR-1F74C1, SF-C557DC and WMID-270D2F. All have been dated to the Middle Bronze Age.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Spear (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: South Kelsey, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 52 mm
Thickness: 5 mm
Weight: 12.62 g
Description: Fragment of a Late Bronze Age spear. Only the tip survives. It is lozenge in section and has a pronounced rib running down the centre on both sides. The perimeter is damaged apart from a short section along one edge. Much of the perimeter and blade edge is pitted with bright green patches of corrosion, however, the original surface is smooth and has a mid-brown patina. The break is irregular and does not appear to have been done intentionally.



52mm x 18mm x 5mm. 12.62g.



This item possibly dates to the Ewart park phase of the Late Bronze Age (1,000-700BC).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-900 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Sherborne St. John, Basingstoke and Deane, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 45.45 mm
Thickness: 14.9 mm
Weight: 45.12 g
Description: The lower part of a plain Late Bronze Age copper-alloy socketed axe which has been broken diagonally. The axe is very worn and retains c.50% of its surfaces and has a prominent casting seam. The axe measure 22mm from the base of the socket to the present break.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Ingot (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1150 to -600)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Charlwood, Mole Valley, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 42.64 mm
Thickness: 16.87 mm
Description: 
A fragment of a Late Bronze Age copper-alloy plano-convex bun ingot.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1300 to -900)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Clanfield, West Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 17.94 mm
Thickness: 7.47 mm
Weight: 12.07 g
Description: 
A fragment comprising the butt of a Middle Bronze Age copper-alloy palstave along with the upper extent of the side wings.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Knife (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-800 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Norwell, Newark and Sherwood, Nottinghamshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 46.54 mm
Thickness: 9.81 mm
Weight: 17.41 g
Description: An incomplete copper-alloy Late Bronze Age (c.800-c.700 BC) socketed knife, missing the tip of its blade and most of the socket. The object is bifacial and narrowly convex, with no central midrib. The object is roughly trapezoidal when laid flat and roughly triangular in profile. The socket is waisted and a pointed oval in cross-section, with no visible peg-holes. There is a triangular facet down one side; the other side may also have been faceted but is now too worn to discern. The rim of the socket has a rough, uneven edge where it terminates in an ancient break. The interior of the object is encrusted with dirt from the end of the waist. Both faces are smooth and have a brown patina. The edge and the socket on one face have a rough, green surface where the outer layer has been worn away. Overall the object measures 46.54mm long, 25.56mm wide and 9.81mm thick. It weighs 17.41g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1150 to -950)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Spalford, Newark and Sherwood, Nottinghamshire ()
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 125 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Description: A near-complete Bronze Age copper-alloy palstave dating to the Middle to Late Bronze Age transition.The axe is if Schmidt and Burgess's Nettleham Type, which places it within the Wilburton Industry, Needham Period 6, 1150-950 CAL BC.



The axe is heavily eroded and has breaks across the butt and the side loop. The blade gently flares to the cutting edge; the sides are straight, and in section the blade is rectangular. The cutting edge is abraded and appears to have been reground several times owing to the lack of expanded blade at the edges.The axe has a pronouced stop-ridge on both sides, though on one side it is damaged. Two moulded ridges run away from the stop-ridge down the blade on both sides. These ridges are difficult to see on the side that has suffered the greatest damage. The butt is incomplete.



The surface of the axe is variable. Towards the cutting edge the blade on both sides has a smooth surface with green-brown patina. It is heavily pitted towards the stop-ridge on one side. The butt is heavily pitted on both sides.



The length of the axe is 125mm, and the height across the blade is 39mm. At the stop ridge it is 25mm in height, and 24mm in width.



References



Davey, P.J., 1973. Bronze Age Metalwork from Lincolnshire. Archaeologia, 104, 51-127.



Needham, S., 1996. Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age. Acta Archaeologia, 67, 121-40.



Schmidt, P.K. & C.B. Burgess, 1981. The Axes of Scotland and Northern England, München: Beck.
Notes: 
I am grateful to Dr Peter Chowne for the identification of this axe.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2150 to -1500)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Laughton, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 131.2 mm
Thickness: 13.2 mm
Weight: 460 g
Description: A complete copper alloy flat axehead of early Bronze Age date, c.2150 - 1500 BC. The axehead is sub-trapezoidal with a curved blade tapering to a rounded cutting edge. The axehead is extremely worn and undecorated. No signs of ridges or flanges are present indicating that this is an early flat axe.



The metal has a heavily corroded mid-green patina with much of the orignal surface being lost. The axehead is 131.2mm long, 72.8mm tapering to 33.8mm wide, 13.2mm thick and weighs 460g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Ingot (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -600)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Charlwood, Mole Valley, Surrey (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 24.67 mm
Thickness: 12.97 mm
Weight: 46.4 g
Description: A Bronze Age copper-alloy ingot weighing 46.40g. The ingot is slightly wedge-shaped.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Ingot (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2100 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Perranzabuloe, Cornwall, Cornwall (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 73 mm
Height: 31 mm
Thickness: 31 mm
Weight: 369.25 g
Description: Fragment of a cast copper alloy ingot which would have originally been circular in plan and plano-convex in profile, but this fragment is trapezoidal in plan, triangular in profile, and rhomboidal in section, as it comes from one edge of the original ingot. Plano-convex ingots like this one were used during the Late Bronze Age, c.1150-700 BC. The surface of the ingot is deeply pitted where air bubbles formed during the casting process and the sides of the fragment have cavities typically seen in these bun ingots. There are dark green and coppery brown areas and light green patches of bronze disease.Similar ingot fragments have been found in metalworkers hoards in Cornwall dating from the Late Bronze Age, most recently in a hoard (2012 T570) from St Buryan (CORN-37D710), which was found with socketed axes that date from the Ewart Park phase (c.950-850 BC) of the Late Bronze Age.



Pearce (1983) illustrates similar ingots with rectangular profiles from Mountbatten, Plymouth on page 451, plate 36, no.281t, which were found with other Late Bronze Age metalwork, and an ingot fragment from Churston Ferrers, Torbay on page 457, plate 40, no.306b, which was found with a larger plano-convex ingot.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Letcombe Regis, Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 17.72 mm
Thickness: 5.97 mm
Weight: 4.9 g
Description: A copper alloy tip fragment, possibly from a mid to late Bronze Age axe, c. 1500 - 800 BC. The fragment has a dark green patina but is too small for further ID.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Palstave (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -1100)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Letcombe Regis, Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 35 mm
Thickness: 11.4 mm
Weight: 37.3 g
Description: A cast copper alloy butt-end fragment of a middle Bronze Age Palstave c. 1500 - 1100 BC. The break appears to have been caused in antiquity. The surface has some pitting with a smooth, dark green patina.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1100 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Tarrant Launceston, North Dorset, Dorset (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 23.7 mm
Thickness: 12.7 mm
Weight: 34.93 g
Description: A fragment of copper aloy socketed axe. The cutting edge of the axe only remains. The cutting edge is crescentic. At the back is the remnant of the socket. Along each of the sides is a casting seam.

Date: Late Bronze Age - c. 1100 - 800 BC

Dimensions: 23.7 mm x 43.0 mm x 12.7 mm

Weight: 34.93 g
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2100 to -1900)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: East Hardwick, Wakefield, Wakefield (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 78 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Weight: 47.43 g
Description: A copper alloy early Bronze Age flat axe head dating to the period c. 2100-1900BC. The axe was probably part of the Migdale metalworking tradition. It is complete, but very worn. The axe head has a rounded butt which exhibits some old damage. It widens along its length at the butt end to the blade end. There is some damage to the blade. The object is has a brown patina and surface is slightly pitted. The length is 78mm, the width is 22mm thickness 8mm and the weight 47.43g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Rapier (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1400 to -1250)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Bampton, West Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 404 mm
Thickness: 4.27 mm
Weight: 160 g
Description: A Middle Bronze Age (c.1400-1250BC) copper-alloy rapier, now bent and distorted, almost certainly deliberately. This rapier has the characteristic thin narrow blade of a rapier that expands to form a plate with rounded end and with two rivet holes for attachment to the hilt. A short length of the rounded end is missing. The object now measures 404mm and is 23.3mm across its central length. The thickness is c.4.3 - 4.8mm.
Notes: The rapier is similar to SWYOR-7A4C37 and LON-47F5C3
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-900 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: East Meon, East Hampshire, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 42.93 mm
Weight: 40.71 g
Description: A large part  (about c 50%) of the rim of a plain Bronze Age copper-alloy socketed axe. The axe has no collar swelling but has a prominent casting seam and a raised stub of runner.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axe (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1500 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: East Meon, East Hampshire, Hampshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 28.9 mm
Weight: 3.65 g
Description: 
A fragment of a blade of a Bronze Age copper-alloy axe of uncertain form.

Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1400 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Wantage, Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 9.8 mm
Thickness: 3.1 mm
Weight: 0.7 g
Description: A copper alloy fragment of a probable Bronze Age axe or palstave. The tip of the blade has an unusual 'hook' like form. A similar tip can be seen in - The Bronze Age in Ireland (Coffey 1913) has a palstave at Chapter III plate I. where a very similar 'hooked tip' to a palstave. At Fig 20, there is a similar tip to a Winged Celt. Therefore, this is suggestive of the object being from the Middle to Late Bronze Age c. 1400-800 BC. The tip has a smooth mid-green patina.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Ingot (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1150 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Penzance, Cornwall, Cornwall (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 67 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight: 150.34 g
Description: Cast copper alloy globule or casting waste, ovate in plan and plano-convex in profile and section, formed from a pool of molten metal collecting in a small recess. The surface of the ingot is pitted where air bubbles formed during the casting process and the uneven edge suggests accidental manufacture. There is a brown corrosion layer over much of the surface and light green patches of bronze disease. This was probably produced during the casting of copper alloy plano-convex ingots during the Late Bronze Age, c.1150-700 BC.



Pearce (1983) illustrates shallow ingots from Mountbatten, Plymouth on page 451, plate 36, no.281t, which were found with other Late Bronze Age metalwork.



Knight, Ormrod & Pearce (2015) illustrate a similar shallow ovate ingot fragment from Marldon in Devon on page 79, pl.6, no.146a (see DEV-677584).



Comparable to a globule of casting waste found in the St Levan hoard (2016 T20) in record CORN-E8DF11, which is dated from the Late Bronze Age, c.1150-700 BC.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Chisel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1300 to -1150)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Madron, Cornwall, Cornwall (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 56 mm
Height: 12 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 25.6 g
Description: Incomplete cast copper alloy socketed chisel, wedge-shaped in profile and sub-rectangular in plan, with parallel sides. One side of the chisel has broken away to reveal the socket within, which is 36 mm long and 12 mm wide, but the upper mouth of the socket is missing. The chisel is corroded and pitted but there appears to be no active bronze disease. The blade has a curved edge which is worn, and fragments of the edge have been broken off in the past, but it appears to mainly follow the original edge with no flaring of the tips. There are small scars on both faces that are probably the result of plough damage. The hollow interior is cone-shaped, with the socket ending 20 mm up from the blade. The cross-section of the chisel is sub-rectangular with the walls ranging from 2 to 3 mm in thickness. The chisel is missing its butt end and was probably about 70-80 mm in length originally. The shape and curve of the blade suggest that this might have been a tool for carving wood, with the rounded edge enabling the carver to work with a concave area. The angle of the bevel, at about 20°, would have made it ideal for fine work where thin slivers of wood were being removed. 



Needham & Rohl (1998) illustrate a similar example on page 132, no.175, which is dated to the Penard phase of the late Middle Bronze Age, c.1300-1150 BC.



Needham, Parham & Frieman (2013) illustrate similar socketed chisels from Langdon Bay in Kent on pages 70-71, fig.3.11, nos.121, 125 &127, but they are all incomplete, like this example, without mouth mouldings and side loops and therefore difficult to date within the Taunton / Penard phases.



Knight, Ormrod & Pearce (2015) illustrate a similar chisel from Buckland Newton in Dorset on page 103, pl.30, no.210 (see DOR-EE8574).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Chisel (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1150 to -850)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Noke, Cherwell, Oxfordshire (South East)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 93.8 mm
Thickness: 11.7 mm
Weight: 36.9 g
Description: A complete cast copper-alloy tanged chisel of Late Bronze Age date. The chisel is in good copndition and appears undamaged, with evidence for use wear on the blade tip and edge. The chisel has a tapering square-sectioned tang, 6.66mm thick, which abutts the round-sectioned, collared handle stop of the chisel blade. The collar is 11.7mm diameter. From the collar the chisel blade, which is broadly triangular in plan, flattens in profile and expands to a very thin cutting edge with slightly flared shoulders. The cutting edge is 33.2mm wide. The object is in very good coniditon and has a mid-brown patina across much of its surface.



Tanged chisels, which date from c. 1150-850 BC, are known from several hoards and as isolated finds; complete examples from such contexts are uncommon. Several tanged chisels, or elements of them, are recorded on this database (for example, see BH-49EAD8). Two other complete tanged chisels from Oxfordshire are of almost identical form; on this database an example from South Oxfordshire (see BERK-52E8C3), and another illustrated in Evans (1881:168 no. 193) from Wallingford (formerly Berkshire). Similar examples have been recorded on this database from across the county, including DUR-5BADA1 and NMS-769173.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Flat Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-2500 to -2050)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Shifnal, Shropshire, Shropshire (West Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 86.2 mm
Thickness: 9.5 mm
Weight: 252.1 g
Description: An incomplete copper alloy (bronze) flat axe of the Early Bronze Age, dating from c. BC 2500 - BC 2050



The flat axe is broadly sub rectangular in plan with a splayed crescent shaped blade. In profile it is broadly lentoid, with slight tapering edges. In cross section the axe is lentoid in shape. The butt is relatively thin having a flat edge, the butt has been broken. The patina at the break matches with the rest of the axe suggesting the break occurred in antiquity. The sides of the axe gently expand in width from the butt to the blade; in shape they are relatively straight. There is no evidence of the long edges being raised to form flanges and there is also no evidence of a median bevel (proto stop ridge). However, the axe is thickest at the mid point (9.5 mm). The sides of the blade expand slightly to produce a crescentic blade edge with a width of 62.2 mm. The tips of the crescent shaped blade have been damaged through either abrasion or wear, as has the blade edge itself. The blade facet has been heavily abraded and is virtually no longer visible, however the top and bottom of the blade do slope gently down to the edge. There is no evidence of any form of incised or cast decoration present on any surface of the axe. 



The object measures 86.2 mm in length. The width at the butt is 45.4 mm, the centre is 51.5 mm wide and the blade is 62.2 mm wide. The butt has a thickness of 6.9 mm, the centre is 9.5 mm thick and the blade is 5.3 mm thick. The axehead weighs 252.1 g. 



The axe is a mid to dark brown in colour with a much abraded or corroded patina. Traces of a light green patina, suggesting corrosion products. Abrasion caused by movement whilst within the plough soil has resulted in the loss of most of the original surface detail. 



The axehead is best described as coming from the first phases of the Early Bronze Age (or possibly even the Copper Age). This example fits best into the copper axes and early bronze axes. The form of the axe is comparable to Type Castletown Roche/Pitlochry (outlined by Schmidt and Burgess p 22-23, Plate 1, No 5). These axes fit within the earliest phases of metal working in Britain, metalworking stage I-II, which corresponds to Needham's (1996) Period 1-2 circa 2500- 2050 CAL. BC. This means that they are dated, broadly, to the same period as Beaker pottery, barbed and tanged flint arrowheads, copper halberds and gold lunulae. Similar axeheads have also been recorded on the database including HESH-ACD6C1, HESH-84D8A5 and LANCUM-AA5ED7. 



Ref: 



Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C.B. 1981. The Axes of Scotland and Northern England. Prahistorische Bronzefunde. Abteilung IX. Band 7. C.H. Beck'Sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Munchen. p.22-23 (also Plate 1 no 5).
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Knife (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Linton, Craven, North Yorkshire ()
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 92 mm
Weight: 30.32 g
Description: Copper alloy incomplete tanged dagger or knife blade which is incomplete dating 1000 - 800BC. The blade is double edged, tapering, with a central ridge producing a lozenge form profile, the blade is in two pieces which were discovered on different occasions. other. The blade is narrowed from the top with angled sides and terminates at the tip. The top would probably have terminated in a tang. The length is 92mm, width is 27mm and the weight 30.32g.



Burgess, C. B. and Gerloff, S., 1981. The Dirks and Rapiers of Great Britain and Ireland Munich : Prähistorische Bronzefunde
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Ring (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to 100)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Linton, Craven, North Yorkshire ()
Discovery method: Metal detector
Diameter: 33 mm
Weight: 14.5 g
Description: Copper alloy complete horse harness ring dating 1000BC - 100AD. The ring is bevelled on the inside and decorated with hatched lines and the outside is decorated with chevrons and pellets. The use of this object is difficult to interpret. It may have had a decorative function in harness or personal dress or more probably relates to chariot furniture of the later Iron Age. The diameter is 33mm and the weight 14.50g.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Socketed Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1000 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Granby, Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire (East Midlands)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 24 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Weight: 53.8 g
Description: A fragment of a cast copper alloy axehead of the Late Bronze Age. The axehead is broken just above the deep end of the socket. The fragment is trapezoidal in plan with a convex cutting edge, which appears complete. The object is covered with a green patina, mostly light green but with dark, shiny patches. The patina also covers the break surface, suggesting that the break is an ancient one. Apart from the break the object shows relatively little abrasion or damage.



The object is 35mm wide at the break, flaring to 46mm at the cutting edge, and 24mm in length, It is 8mm thick at the break, tapering to less than 1 mm at the cutting edge.



Similar objects on this database include SWYOR-BECF02 and SWYOR-7C54E2.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Ingot (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1150 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Penzance, Cornwall, Cornwall (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 72 mm
Height: 36 mm
Thickness: 36 mm
Weight: 415.85 g
Description: Fragment of a cast copper alloy ingot which would have originally been circular in plan and plano-convex in profile, but this fragment is trapezoidal in plan, triangular in profile, and rhomboidal in section, as it comes from one edge of the original ingot. Plano-convex ingots like this one were used during the Late Bronze Age, c.1150-700 BC. The surface of the ingot is pitted where air bubbles formed during the casting process and the sides of the fragment have cavities typically seen in these bun ingots. There are dark green and coppery brown areas and light green patches of bronze disease. Similar ingot fragments have been found in metalworkers hoards in Cornwall dating from the Late Bronze Age, most recently in a hoard (2016 T20) from St Levan (CORN-E8DF11) and in another hoard (2012 T570) from St Buryan (CORN-37D710), which were found with socketed axes that date from the Ewart Park phase (c.950-850 BC) of the Late Bronze Age.



Pearce (1983) illustrates similar ingots with rectangular profiles from Mountbatten, Plymouth on page 451, plate 36, no.281t, which were found with other Late Bronze Age metalwork, and an ingot fragment from Churston Ferrers, Torbay on page 457, plate 40, no.306a, which are parts of larger plano-convex ingots.
Notes: Results of XRF analysis by Dr. Jens Andersen at Camborne School of Mines:



65% copper (but probably quite pure as 30% of the reading were recorded as anomalies which include gasses and not inclusions)



7.36% iron



0.16% antimony



0.04% zinc



0.03% tin



This is typical of readings taken from other individual Late Bronze Age ingots and also those in the hoards mentioned above.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Ingot (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1150 to -700)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Madron, Cornwall, Cornwall (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 42 mm
Height: 28 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight: 179.88 g
Description: Fragment of a cast copper alloy ingot which would have originally been circular in plan and plano-convex in profile, but this fragment is trapezoidal in plan and rhomboidal in profile and in section, as it comes from the centre of the original ingot. Plano-convex ingots like this one were used during the Late Bronze Age, c.1150-700 BC. The surface of the ingot is pitted where air bubbles formed during the casting process and typically seen in these bun ingots. There are dark green and coppery brown areas and light green patches of bronze disease. Similar ingot fragments have been found in metalworkers' hoards in Cornwall dating from the Late Bronze Age, most recently in a hoard (2016 T20) from St Levan (CORN-E8DF11) and in another hoard (2012 T570) from St Buryan (CORN-37D710), which were found with socketed axes that date from the Ewart Park phase (c.950-850 BC) of the Late Bronze Age.



Pearce (1983) illustrates similar ingots with rectangular profiles from Mountbatten, Plymouth on page 451, plate 36, no.281t, which were found with other Late Bronze Age metalwork, and an ingot fragment from Churston Ferrers, Torbay on page 457, plate 40, no.306b, which was found with a larger plano-convex ingot.



Knight, Ormrod & Pearce (2015) illustrate a similar ingot fragment from Churston Ferrers in Devon on page 79, pl.6, no.123b (see DEV-D9F1E2), which is dated from the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
Object: Axehead (Bronze Age)
Period: Bronze Age to BRONZE AGE (-1600 to -800)
Material: Copper alloy 
Found: Stoke Gabriel, South Hams, Devon (South West)
Discovery method: Metal detector
Length: 32.31 mm
Thickness: 9.78 mm
Weight: 30.6 g
Description: A fragment of a copper alloy Bronze Age axehead dating to the period c. 1600 - 800 BC. The fragment is most likely to derive from a socketed axe. It is difficult to make a more precise classification due to the shape of the remaining fragment, however, it has been suggested that it is more likely to be a Late Bronze Age socketed axe due to the position of the break along the body and the shape of the blade. The axehead is broadly trapezoidal in plan and triangular in profile. The fragment consists of a small portion of the blade and part of the socket. The blade tips are intact, however, the cutting edge has been removed by a series of old breaks. The blade narrows along its length away from the cutting edge and terminates in an old break. The casting seams appear to be trimmed and finished. The axehead has a dark brown and green patina.
Subsequent action: Returned to finder