SPEARHEAD

Cast bronze (copper alloy) developed side looped and socketed spear (spearhead) of Middle Bronze Age date (1500 - 1150 BC). The spearhead fits best within Davis (2012) Group 6 Developed side-looped Type 6 D Ogival blade. The spearhead is irregular in plan and broadly triangular in profile. The blade is incomplete, the cutting edges having been removed through abrasion and corrosion; in shape it is broadly ogival having slight tapering sides that terminate with a rounded tip, the widest point of the blade is set low down and the bottom edge of the blade curves swiftly towards the socket. The blade has a lozenge shaped mid-rib that extends to the tip - which is a lozenge shape in section. The socket is cylindrical and tapers into the midrib below the blade it expands slightly toward the base. The mouth of the socket is circular with an internal diameter at the base of 12.9mm. Two loops (string loops) are present in line with the blade at the midpoint between the blade and base of the socket. They extend slightly from the socket and have flattened lozenge shaped plates. On one side in line but below the loop is a small rectangular hole or slot; the purpose of this hole is unknown - it has rounded corners and the inside edge is worn. The slot is also patinated suggesting that it was deliberately formed and contemporary with use. There is no decoration present. The spearhead is a mid brown green colour with a well preserved but laminating polished surface patina. The casting seams on either edge of the spear have trimmed and hammered flat. The spearhead is also stained with large amounts of orange corrosion; most probably iron pan from wet soil conditions. The speak also has a bend at the mid point with a deep lateral crack. It is difficult to tell when this damage occurred - it is possibly an artefact of movement in the soil but it is also possible that it was deliberately damaged when deposited. There is no evidence of any organic material preserved within the socket.

The spearhead was investigated by the Conservation department at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. The spearhead was X-rayed and the crack is clearly visible across the blade; it also showed the shape and depth of the socket which is slightly lopsided and terminates in a blunted point. The X-Ray also showed the side loops were once open - but now clogged with iron pan. A series of small pock marks were also shown, especially in the lower blade. The spearhead was also investigated using XRF which showed the surface metal comprised Copper (Cu) 27.54%, Tin (Sn) 51.46%, Lead (Pb) 4.07%, Iron (Fe) 11.71% and Silica (Si) 5.23%. The very high tin content is likely to be due to differential corrosion rates and the iron is due to the corrosion from the soil, Silica is likely to be from a preservative applied by the finder.

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 (1450-1125 BC) metalworking traditions. These phases correspond with Needham's Period 5 (c. 1500 - 1150 BC). Davis (2012) has systematically catalogued spearheads from Britain and re-classified them using a more systematic approach. This example fits well within his Group 6 - Developed side looped - specifically his Type 6D Ogival blade - although such precise classification maybe flawed due to the condition of this example. Davis suggests that these have a distribution away from Wales and the midlands being more focussed on the South and East. He also confirms the dating to coincide with Ehrenberg's. A parallel with a similar rectangular slot has not been found. A number of this form of spearhead have been analysed by Peter Northover - although the XRF for this example is not representative due to it being a surface sample which is distorted by corrosion.

The spearhead measures: 147.6mm length, 20.1mm width across the widest part of the blade, 9.5mm thick at the same point. the base has an external diameter of 15.6mm and internal diameter of 12.9mm, the socket is 67.1mm deep. It weighs 55.97 grams