HOARD

Treasure Case 2015 T900. A collection of c. 19 objects, consisting of c.85 fragments thereof, of a Middle Bronze Age 'Ornament Horizon' hoard (c. 1400-1200 BC). The items were buried in an undecorated bucket urn laid on its side, probably in a small pit, however severe truncation by the plough had destroyed all but the very base of the context and under half of the vessel. Many of the artefacts were found within 10-15m of the hoard deposit, and were intially recovered by metal detecting. Once a suspected concentration was identifed the local FLO was informed and a controlled excavation and retrieval of the hoard was undertaken. This record presents the intial results and catalogue of artefacts before indepth analysis. Therefore the report will be updated.

Artefacts (complete and fragments) recovered from the ploughsoil by detector:
1x decorated bracelet
1x dagger
4x fragments from the same blade
3x large pin fragments
2x quoit pin neck junctions
2x quoit pin loop fragments
1x hook
7x other fragments

Artefacts recovered during excavation:
1x undecorated razor
1x decorated razor
20x pin fragments
4x blade fragments
2x quoit pin fragments
1x vessel side (in c.30 pieces)

The intial hoard catalogue follows:
1) Complete copper alloy decorated bracelet, Liss type. Penannular, oval section, decorated with 4 rows of chevrons with two panels of parallel lines between. 1400-1200 BC. 159.5gms. Internal dia: 56mm; thickness: 10.1mm
2) Copper alloy dagger. Worn and incomplete, tip missing, butt broken, edges damaged, worn midrib. 30grams, 122.7mm L; 30.9mm max W; 2.7mm T.
3) Copper alloy rapier / dagger, Group I? In 7 pieces. Rapier in several fragments, apparently post-depositional damage. Butt rivet holes broken. Edges damaged, multiple linear scratches on both sides of blade. 232mm L; 39mm W (max); 2.5mm T.
4) Copper alloy quoit-headed pin fragment, the T-junction of the pin head and shaft, decorated on the edges with short notches. 1500-1150 BC.
5) Copper alloy quoit-headed pin in 6 pieces. Six fragments of the loop of a quoit headed pin, incomplete loop, T-junction present. External edges of Junction and loop decorated with small notches either side. 25.7grams, Internal dia c. 83mm; 8mm W; 2.5mm T. 1500-1150 BC.
6) Eleven (11) fragments of a copper alloy spiral torc, including the two hooked ends.
7) Copper alloy pin fragment, circular sectioned shank, possibly part of Object 9. 2.5grams, 31mm L; 4.2mm dia.
8) Copper alloy pin shaft fragment, quite thick circular section, worn and lost 50% of outer surface. 13.3grams, 107mm L; 5.4mm dia.
9) Copper alloy pin fragments of an incomplete pin with circular sectioned shank, consisting of three re-fitting pieces. 9.9grams, 121mm L, 4mm dia.
10) Eight copper alloy pin fragments, circular sectioned shank with several re-fitting pieces. The pin has a curve to it and varies in thickness. 5.2grams.
11) Copper alloy pin fragments. Incomplete thin and very small circular sectioned pin of 5 pieces, two re-fitting. One fragment of a tip. May not all be the same pin. 0.5grams.
12) Copper alloy decorated razor. Incomplete bifid razor, edges and peak damaged/ missing, end of shaft missing. Decorated on both faces down central area with uneven and unequal panels of chevrons, cross-hatching and diagonal lines. 14.6grams, 86.3mm L; 38.7mm W; 1.6mm T.
13) Copper alloy undecoated razor. Incomplete bifid razor, edges and top damaged/ missing, most of shaft missing. 7.7grams, 66mm L; 30.2mm W; 1.2mm T.
14) Incomplete copper alloy rapier or dagger. The tip of a rapier or other blade; does not appear to be associated with any of the other blades from this assemblage. Elongated lozenge-shaped section. 1.6grams, 25.4mm L; 13.3mm W; 2mm T
15) Slag / waste. Two amorphous lumps of bronze casting waste found in vacinity of hoard. 8.9grams.
16) Unidentified object; a small rolled piece of bronze, a collar or sleeve possibly fitting over another object, or a crude bead. 0.2grams, 6.3mm dia; 5.3mm W; 0.5mm T
17) Unidentified curved fragment of copper alloy, decorated on one side only with two curved troughs, forming slight ridges on the outside of the troughs. 3.5grams, 29mm L; 12.3mm W; 2.2mm T.
18) Three small fragments of an unidentified object(s), one fragment has a moulded ridge, the second two decorative notches with this and the third fragment being slightly curved. All appear to be from the same object. 1.7grams.
19) Hoard container, a Middle Bronze Age bucket urn in c. 30 pieces. One complete side of a hand made vessel, crushed flint temper, grey-brown clay fabrix. Plain rounded rim with two holes for suspension, flat base. 534 grams.

~~Addendum #1
In September 2016 four more items from the vicinity of the hoard were submitted. They are detailed below.
20. Copper alloy quiot headed pin fragment (1 piece). A short length of the loop from a quoit headed pin, almost certainly part of group No. 5. The external edges of the fragment are decorated with small notches on either side. Dimensions: Weight 1.6g, 17.8mm Length; 8.8mm Width; 2mm Thickness.
21. Copper alloy pin fragment (1 piece). A short length of the shank of a pin with quite a thick circular cross-section. The pin section is slightly curved. Possibly part of pin No. 8 based on its thickness. Dimensions: Weight 2.3g; 13.1mm Length; 5.3mm diameter.
22. Copper alloy strip fragment. A short length of a rectangular sectioned copper alloy strip, curved so that the two ends overlap. The strip tapers in thickness. The edges of the strip are raised (flanged) and show signs of wear. There are repeated notches decorating one edge of the strip. This may be part of the shank of a one of the quiot headed pins (No. 4 or No. 5), or it may be a separate object entirely. Dimensions: Weight 4.1g; 6.3mm wide; 2mm thickness.
23. Unidentified object. A fragment of copper alloy, nearly flat in section and showing no diagnostic features. Probably Bronze Age and should be taken as part of the hoard. Dimensions: Weight 0.3g; 14.6mm length; 10mm wide; 0.5mm thickness.

~~Addendum #2

Bewteen March and April 2017 five more fragments of Bronze Age artefacts were recovered from the vacinity of the original hoard, and are considered to be part of the hoard. These fragments are detailed below and in database record BERK-C8CB8E.
24. Copper alloy twisted torc fragment, almost certainly part of no. 6. 23.3mm long, 3.3mm thick, 1.4 grams weight.
25. Unidentified copper alloy fragment, curved and flat in section. 21.2mm long, 6.5mm width, 3.6mm thick. 2.2 grams weight.
26. Two pieces of curved copper alloy, probably from the same object and possibly related to no. 18 above. High tin content gives metal a silvery surface. 2.4 grams combined weight.
27. Flat amorphous piece of copper alloy, undiagnostic. 1.2 grams.