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SPEARHEAD
Unique ID: GLO-3AB9E7
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Copper alloy socketed spearhead that dates to the middle Bronze Age. The blades of the spearhead are leaf-shaped; both blades have a wide and curved base (20mm in diameter) that narrow to the pointed tip. Separating the two blades is a diamond cross-section spine/rib (7mm high in the middle) that runs the runs down the length of the head. Below the socket is circular in cross-section and expands outwards to the aperture (15mm in diameter). Halfway down the socket, on both sides, is a shallow convex projecting loop that has a very narrow rectangular aperture (3.5mm long by 1.5mm wide)
Similar spears are HESH-CFC925, HESH-CE6980 and WAW-DC8222. These records note that 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 metalworking traditions. These phases correspond with Needham's Period 5 (c. 1500 - 1150 BC).
WAW-DC8222 also comments that the loops on socketed spearheads would have originally been used to help attach and secure the spearhead to the wooden shaft. They also may have been used as suspension loops for some form of tassel or decoration.
Class:
Side-looped
Sub class: Davis (2012) Group 6
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
Period from: BRONZE AGE
Period to: BRONZE AGE
Date from: Circa 1500 BC
Date to: Circa 1150 BC
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 107 mm
Width: 20 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight: 27.06 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 1st April 2018 - Sunday 1st September 2019
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Bath and North East Somerset (Unitary Authority)
District: Bath and North East Somerset (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Saltford (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: ST6868
Four figure Latitude: 51.41011217
Four figure longitude: -2.46148235
1:25K map: ST6868
1:10K map: ST66NE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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