HOARD

2006 T406: Braintree District, Essex: Late Bronze Age Scatter Circumstances of discovery: Whilst using a metal detector Description: A Bronze Age copper alloy awl and fragment of Bronze Age sword blade 1. Fragment of Late Bronze Age 'Saint Nazaire' type sword blade. The fragment is sub square in plan and lenticular in section. It has a rounded raised mid rid, with grooves giving definition to either side. There are a further three grooves to either side of the mid rib, to both faces of the blade. Both of the blade edges are damaged. The break edges, though not straight, are fairly even, but it is impossible to tell whether the sword was deliberately cut, perhaps for inclusion in a scrap hoard. Both break edges are worn, suggesting damage occurred in antiquity. The fragment retains the original surface which survives with a mid brown patina. Pitting and damage to the fragment has revealed mid green surfaces and corrosion. The fragment is 29.62mm long, 30.4mm wide, 7.24mm thick at the rib, 1.92mm thick at the blade edge and weighs 20.51g.

The type Saint Nazaire swords are discussed in Colquhoun and Burgess, 1988, Prähistorische Bronzefunde , Abteiling IV, 5. Band, The Swords of Britain, C.H. Beck'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, München, page 53. Here it is explained that a small number of British swords have distinctive features that compare with the Saint-Nazaire swords of France. These features include a strong central midrib curving away to the bevels, emphasises by a grooved outline, sometimes a series of lines running parallel to the blade edge. When complete, the hilt is similar to that of Wilburton swords, but the blade is straighter than is usual on this type and it is suggested that the Saint-Nazaire sword is the forerunner of the Carp's Tongue type. Colquhoun and Burgess further explain (page 54) that the origin of these swords was probably found in imported Saint-Nazaire French weapons which enjoyed a brief popularity in Britain during the late Penard phase, circa 1275-1140 BC. In Britain the Saint-Nazaire type swords are found in association with late Wilburton hoards, circa 1140-1020 BC, which often contain metalwork more appropriate to the succeeding Ewart Park phase, circa 1020-800 BC. This would date the fragment recorded here to circa 1020 BC. 2. Complete copper alloy Bronze Age awl. The awl is essentially a shaft, square in section, which tapers to a blunt point at either end. Three of the four faces of the awl show very obvious marks, somewhat like planishing. These may be decorative or possibly due to the manufacturing technique of the object. One side is plain, appearing unmarked rather than worn. The awl survives in good condition with an even dark green patina. Slight areas of abrasion reveal lighter green surfaces. The tool is 71.6mm long, 5.04mm wide and 5.24mm thick. It weighs 10.16g.
Stuart Needham's report in Longley & Needham 1980 (Runnymede Bridge 1976: Excavations on the site of a Late Bronze Age settlement, Surrey Archaeological Society, Guildford, page 19) discusses awls or bradawls or tracers as they are sometimes called. He comments that they cannot be dated with any accuracy or placed in a secure chronology, as they are found in Early Bronze Age graves as well as middle and late Bronze Age hoards. The two objects were found in the plough soil level within one metre of each other. To date no associate material has surfaced. The awl and sword fragment constitute a hoard of two pieces of prehistoric metal work. Consequently they qualify as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996 (Following the year 2002 amendment) in terms of both number of objects and age. Caroline McDonald Colchester Museums November 2006