Rights Holder: Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service
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Unique ID: ESS-3CD836
Object type certainty: Certain
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status: Awaiting validation
BURNHAM HOARD 2010 T509: item B.5: Sword - Vollgriffschwerter 'metal hilted sword'
Cast copper alloy metal hilted sword or 'vollgriffschwerter'fragment.
The fragment is socketed, and is trapezoid in plan, formed of a cast piece of metal with a 'u' shaped opening extending from the base of the trapezoid. There is a cast collar around the shortest edge of the trapezoid. There is metal inserted into the socket, which is circular in cross section towards the apex of the trapezoid and flattens out at the base of the trapezoid to form a lozenge shaped cross section, with a central circular rib and two triangular wings.
It is 56.48mm long, 29.42mm wide across the base with the 'u' shaped opening being 27.06mm wide. It is 17.81mm wide at the apex of the trapezoid and 9.36mm thick. It weighs 78.28 grams.
The fragment is believed to be continental in origin. Steve Matthews (pers. Com) has commented that the restricted width of the hilt suggests that it is not a Hallstatt antenna sword, as these are usually are much wider. The 'collar' is common on late Urnfield swords with metal hilts, however, the example from the Burnham Hoard has horizontal ends at the bottom of the hilt, set with a right angle with the interior opening (the 'O' or omega shape). On almost every example Steve Matthews has seen, the hilts have had pointed tips on the inside with the ends often being set diagonally. It is highly likely that this item is a unique find for Britain, and there is no exact continental parallel known at this time.
Class: Vollgriffschwerter
Subsequent action after recording: Submitted for consideration as Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2010T509
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: BRONZE AGE
Date from: Circa 1000 BC
Date to: Circa 800 BC
Quantity: 1
Length: 56.48 mm
Width: 39.42 mm
Weight: 78.28 g
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 1st August 2010 - Sunday 10th October 2010
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Treasure case number: 2010T509
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Fragment
No references cited so far.