HOARD

Description:

A small hoard of alloy Late Bronze Age metalwork, consisting of three incomplete and fragmentary socketed axes and five fragments of metalworking debris.

One axe survives in better condition than the others, complete but for a missing section of the socket. The remaining portion of the socket is rectangular in cross-section and there is a raised rim around its outer end. Further moulding may be visible on each face behind this rim, but this is obscured by damage and corrosion. Extending along one side behind the socket rim is a low, integral, semi-circular loop. There is a thick casting seam along the centre of each side. The sides are fairly straight, flaring only slightly at the blade. The surface of the metal is heavily corroded with pitted areas on all faces and damage around the edges. The broken edges around the missing section of the socket are very regular and one section is torn and twisted, which must have involved considerable force. It is possible that this damage was done deliberately, occurring prior to deposition, or alternatively it may be the result of contact with a plough.

Only the blade ends of the two axe fragments survive. The blade of axe fragment one is slightly more flared than that of axe fragment two. The hollow section of the body behind it is rectangular in cross-section and a casting seam is visible along the centre of both sides. The surface of the metal is heavily corroded and the break is very worn, although patches of shiny dark green patination survive in places on the surface. Axe fragment two has a narrower blade and less visible casting seams along the sides. This fragment is also heavily corroded with worn breaks and some patination surviving in places.

The five fragments of metalworking debris all vary greatly in side and have pitted and corroded surfaces. Their association with this material suggests a similar date, but alone each is undiagnostic in form.

Dimensions:

Axes:

1. Length: 80.17mm, width of blade: 42.64mm, width of remains of socket incl. loop: 40.79mm, thickness of blade: 5.90mm, thickness of socket: 24.25mm, weight: 152.86g
2. Length: 45.75mm, width43.21mm, thickness: 19.70mm, weight: 73.03g
3. Length: 48.22mm, width: 40.45mm, thickness: 19.23mm, weight: 64.40g

Metalworking debris:

1. Length: 80.35mm, width: 53.97mm, thickness: 19.41mm, weight: 312g
2. Length: 67.77mm, width: 43.52mm, thickness: 27.77mm, weight: 281.35g
3. Length: 52.61mm, width: 41.88mm, thickness: 24.80mm, weight: 187.08g
4. Length: 42.21mm, width: 29.82mm, thickness: 20.98mm, weight: 39.63g
5. Length: 29.58mm, width: 19.60mm, thickness: 6.02mm, weight: 15.52g

Discussion:

The socketed form of the axes suggests a late Bronze Age date for the group, c.1100-800 BC. The metalworking debris was found together with these and seems likely to have been associated in some way. As a result the group seems likely to constitute a small hoard.