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Unique ID: NMGW-A91D12
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
Middle Bronze Age bronze dirk of Group II or Group IV with Group II affinities (Burgess & Gerloff, 1981, p 62 - 65), perhaps dating to the Penard metalworking industry (c.1275-1120 BC following Needham et al. 1997), corresponding to the latter part of Needham's (1996) Period 5 (dated to 1500 - 1150BC).
The dirk has a damaged butt and is eroded, but is otherwise complete (with a length of 159mm and a weight of 38.2g). The butt was trapezoidal (with a maximum surviving width of 45.5mm) without a central rib or notches. The butt appears to have broken through two rivet holes, positioned near the upper edge and is thinnest at the top edge (0.5mm) tapering towards the blade (2.7mm thick before the blade). The shoulders slope towards the triangular blade (with a width beneath the shoulders of 26mm). The blade is of rounded, low-oval section (with a maximum thickness of 3.2mm near the butt) with no discernible mid-rib and with straight sides. Concave blade facets (with a surviving width of 4.8mm) are evident and the blade edges have been lost. The dirk has none of the original surface surviving and has a green to orange-brown surface colour.
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: BRONZE AGE
Subperiod to: Middle
Period to: BRONZE AGE
Date from: Circa 1275 BC
Date to: Circa 1120 BC
Quantity: 1
Length: 159 mm
Width: 45.5 mm
Thickness: 3.2 mm
Weight: 38.2 g
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 1st January 2007
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Other reference: NMWPA 2007.167.1
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
4 Figure: SS6288
Four figure Latitude: 51.573927
Four figure longitude: -3.992758
1:25K map: SS6288
1:10K map: SS68NW
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1000 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Burgess, C.B. and Gerloff, S. | 1981 | The Dirks and Rapiers of Great Britain and Ireland | Munich | Beck | |||
Needham, S.P. | 1996 | Chronology and periodisation in the British Bronze Age | Copenhagen | Wiley |