Rights Holder: West Berkshire
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Unique ID: BERK-83AC41
Object type certainty: Certain
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status: Published
A gold twisted slender armlet that has been coiled six times (Middle Bronze Age circa 1300-1100BC). The armlet has a four-flange twisted body and plain terminals which expand gently towards the ends (length: 42.10mm; diameter at widest point: 5.12mm). The terminals are doubled back. The armlet is coiled neatly into a roughly circular shape. Two of the coils have been bent back at ninety degrees to the rest of the coils, this may be deliberate or it may be modern damage, ?plough damage. Dimensions: weight: 132.43g; length: 83.33mm; width: 72.94mm; thickness: 46.99mm. This is part of a Middle Bronze Age hoard consisting of two twisted arm/neck ornaments and three penannular bracelets (BERK-6863E4; BERK-683F91; BERK-6870F5; BERK-687927). The former are coiled (either because they could more easily be buried, or because they were worn on the arms). They both have four-flange twisted bodies, and plain terminals which expand gently towards the ends. The terminals are doubled back. One is more slender than the other. These will be referred to as 'armlets', to distinguish them from the bracelets. Of the three bracelets, two are relatively slender the other is thicker. This last has terminals which almost meet; the other two have wider gaps. Composition: The analysis gave an estimate of 82% of gold content, except of the smaller armlet which was 79%. Identification: Associations of the two types of object represented in this hoard are well known. Both being to well-documented classes of ornament belonging to the Middle Bronze Age, circa 1300-1100BC. This is reinforced by the analyses, which accord well with other objects of this class and date.
This is a find of note and has been designated: Regional importance
Class: Flange Twisted Torc
Current location of find: West Berkshire Museum
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2004T348
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: BRONZE AGE
Subperiod to: Middle
Period to: BRONZE AGE
Date from: 1300 BC
Date to: Circa 1150 BC
Quantity: 1
Length: 83.33 mm
Width: 72.94 mm
Thickness: 46.99 mm
Weight: 132.43 g
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 19th September 2004
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Treasure case number: 2004T348
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.