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DIRK
Unique ID: NCL-BCC384
Object type certainty: Probably
A fragmentary copper-alloy dirk or rapier of middle to late Bronze Age date, c. 1500-1100 BC.
The dirk or rapier fragment is sub-triangular, with the incomplete base and shoulders and the base of the blade. The base would have been semi-circular or similar in outline, and the top edge of a rivet hole remains at the end. A central spine runs down the length of the fragment, with very worn and corroded edges remaining. In section, the blade is lozenge-shaped. While corrosion has undoubtably removed much of the blade, it seems likely that the blade edges has been worn through use in the Bronze Age and probably resharpened. The narrow point remaining on the fragment is probably due to breakage and corrosion of the dirk or rapier in the Bronze Age, with further corrosion in the post-depositional environment.
While the size of the fragment suggests the object was a dirk, comparison with rapiers from Northumberland indicates that it is only a few mm smaller in width at the shoulders in comparison with complete examples. Thus the possibility that the fragment was from a rapier cannot be dismissed.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
Period from: BRONZE AGE [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Period to: BRONZE AGE [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Date from: Circa 1500 BC
Date to: Circa 1100 BC
Dimensions and weight
Length: 68.2 mm
Width: 32.57 mm
Thickness: 4.48 mm
Weight: 22.5 g
Quantity: 1
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Completeness: Fragment [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Spatial data
Region: North East
County: Northumberland
District: Tynedale
Parish: Whittington
Restricted 4 Figure grid reference: NZ0171
The map has been degraded and provides an approximate location with a degree of random obfuscation.
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
Method of discovery: Metal detector
[scope notes]
General landuse: Cultivated land [scope notes]
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 1st June 2011
Personal details
Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Recorded by: Dr Robert Collins
- [
view all attributed records]
Identified by: Miss Lauren Proctor - [view all attributed records]
Other reference numbers
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Audit data
Created:
Wednesday 17th August 2011
Updated: Friday 19th August 2011
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