Record ID: SUR-68C46E
Object type: HOARD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A hoard of three items dating to the Taunton phase (c.1400-1275 BC) of the Middle Bronze Age and found buried together: A complete cast bronze rapier, 535mm in total length, with a solid copper alloy hilt which has been modelled in imitation of a wooden one. The rapier has been broken into three pieces. The tapering blade is 60mm wide at the handle and a maximum of 7.5mm thick with a "triple arris" shaped cross-section throughout its length. It is broken in two fragments, the larger, which is slightly bent, weighing 188g and the smaller, 23.34g.…
Created on: Friday 14th February 2020
Last updated: Monday 25th March 2024
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Stalbridge area', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: DOR-E0B67A
Object type: AWL
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete cast copper alloy awl or tracer. The awl has two distinct elements: A circular sectioned, cone-shaped end Awl) and and a flat, wedge-shaped, rectangular cross sectioned end (tracer). Date: Late Bronze - c. 1150 - 800 BC Dimensions: 52.58 mm x 7.04 mm x 4.76 mm Weight: 5.66 g There are several similar objects recorded on the PAS database. For example DOR-AD7774, DOR-79E277, SOM-D995B1, SOM-7C6ED1 and SOM-990775 in which Laura Burnett notes: Plain copper alloy awls are hard to date precisely but ones of this form are known to have been introduced in the Br…
Created on: Monday 6th December 2021
Last updated: Sunday 24th March 2024
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-03A27A
Object type: FLAT AXEHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete cast copper alloy flat axehead or chisel. There is some damage to the cutting edge and the butt. The butt is narrow and angled at the end. The axehead is elongated with long, low-flanged sides which flare out from the butt to the curved cutting edge. The flanges start at the butt and increase slightly in height to the mid.point of the axehead before decreasing in height until stopping around 1 cm from the cutting edge. The side profile is pointed oval. The transverse profile is a shallow H-shape. There is no evidence of a stop-ridge. The surfaces are all heavily pi…
Created on: Monday 18th December 2023
Last updated: Wednesday 31st January 2024
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-2A5A13
Object type: HOARD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A gold working hoard dating to the Early Bronze Age consisting of a flat axe, gold bar ingot fragment and 8 pieces of scrap gold. These are discussed below. 1) An incomplete cast copper alloy flat axe or chisel of Early Bronze Age date (c. 2000 - 1700 BC). The axe probably best fits within the Migdale metalworking tradition The object is sub-trapezoidal in plan expanding from one broken terminal, marked by an irregular transverse break, down most of its length before narrowing again at an incomplete crescent blade edge. This blade is missing a chip at one of its wings, giving it a di…
Created on: Wednesday 8th May 2019
Last updated: Tuesday 30th January 2024
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Melcombe Horsey', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: NMGW-9B796D
Object type: MINIATURE OBJECT
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Miniature copper alloy axe of Late Bronze Age to Romano-British date (c. 1200 BC -AD 400) and probably of Robinson's (1988, p61) type I. The miniature axe head is complete but is slightly distorted along its length and is of comparatively elongated form (with an overall length of 28.9mm and a weight of 4.8g). The butt or mouth is sub-square (4.9mm x 4.7mm) and has a transverse ridge separating the mouth from the top of the loop. The mouth encloses a small, shallow and irregular depression, probably representing a socket. The miniature axe head has a maximum width across the loop (of 10…
Created on: Tuesday 6th February 2018
Last updated: Thursday 18th January 2024
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-FFCA9A
Object type: TORC
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Description: A fragment from a cast and then twisted gold bracelet, possibly repurposed into a ring dating to the Middle Bronze Age (c.1300 – 1100 cal BC). The object is made of a gold rod that has been bent into an oval shaped hoop whose two terminals overlap one another. The rod is rectangular in section (c.3.6mm wide and c.3.1mm thick) with slightly accentuated corners created by slightly concave edges. This rod has been twisted moderately (having 5 twists) across its length. Both terminals end in transverse breaks. Dimensions: The ring is 14.8mm long and 13.0mm wide. In it…
Created on: Wednesday 7th March 2018
Last updated: Friday 12th January 2024
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Piddletrenthide', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: DOR-8CE34B
Object type: CHISEL
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete, cast, copper-alloy chisel or awl. A bar of copper alloy, sub-angular in cross section with a break at one and and a tapered and splayed working edge at the other. Date: Possibly Late Bronze Age - c. 1250 - 800 BC Length: 61.9 mm Width: 2.92 mm Thickness: 3.83 mm Weight: 3.49 g
Created on: Monday 6th November 2023
Last updated: Saturday 30th December 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-7EBFDD
Object type: BRACELET
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Description:  The object appears to be made from a bar that was deliberately split and then hammered into flattened strands. The object is U-shaped in plan and comprises three integral sections. One consisting of extending arms, a rod shaped mid piece, and a warped flattened section. The bar has a rectangular cross section that is 4.3mm long, 4.0mm wide and 3.1mm thick. From one end of this bar the bar splits into four separate strands that each takes up half of two sides of the bar. Each strand narrows from this triangular profile to become flat being c. 3.6mm wide and c.1mm t…
Created on: Friday 23rd November 2018
Last updated: Monday 18th December 2023
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Portesham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: DOR-D2EF2C
Object type: CHISEL
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete small copper alloy chisel or possibly a miniature flat axe. The object has a butt which tapers to a point and a flaring blade with a convex cutting edge which is chipped. It thickens from the butt to the centre and then thins to the cutting edge giving it a sub oval longitudinal profile. It is rectangular in its transverse cross section. Date: Bronze Age - c. 1100 - 800 BC Dimensions: 61.34 mm x 20.05 mm x 4.35 mm Weight: 11.29 g Similar objects can be found on the PAS database at: SF-81B0CD and DOR-D8751E
Created on: Monday 17th April 2023
Last updated: Saturday 2nd December 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-72FAD4
Object type: END SCRAPER
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A crude flint end scraper. Made on a tertiary flake of  patchy grey flint. It has a matt patina. There is a low bulb of percussion and a small striking platform at the proximal end and faint waves of percussion on the ventral face. On the dorsal face are several flake removal scars and angular fractures (probably due to the low quality of the flint). The tip of the distal end has a small area of abrupt, irregular retouch creating a working edge. Date: Bronze Age 2350 - 800 BC Dimensions: 58.5 mm x 41.5 mm x 11.5 mm Weight: 33.5 g  
Created on: Wednesday 1st June 2022
Last updated: Wednesday 22nd November 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SOM-A7FCE7
Object type: HOARD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A hoard of Middle Bronze Age Palstave axes. Date: Middle Bronze Age - 1300-1150 cal BC Description:  A hoard of four near complete palstave axeheads in a generally good condition. Axe 1: Axe 1 is a near complete copper alloy single looped palstave axe with high, protruding stop-ridge and flanges in addition to a well-preserved side loop. It dates to the Middle Bronze Age c. 1300 to 1150 cal BC. It is broken in half just below the stop-ridge on the blade side but these fragments refit such that the object is practically complete The butt of this axe is complete and has a f…
Created on: Tuesday 14th May 2019
Last updated: Wednesday 22nd November 2023
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'West Stour CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SUR-C95938
Object type: LITHIC IMPLEMENT
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A large flint piercer or multi tool made from a fragment of a nodule of mottled grey flint, 61.2mm in length and of Bronze Age date. The tool is triangular with a long tip which has been worked into a point using abrupt scaled retouch along one side. The proximal end has a patch of long abrupt parallel retouch which has removed the cortex and created a scraping edge, suggesting multiple functions for the tool.
Created on: Tuesday 21st November 2023
Last updated: Tuesday 21st November 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-C8982D
Object type: SCRAPER (TOOL)
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A small discoidal scraper of Bronze Age date made from a re-utilised secondary cortical waste flake. The distal end has been refined into a working edge using long low angle scaled retouch. The dorsal surface retains 30% of its buff coloured cortex.
Created on: Tuesday 21st November 2023
Last updated: Tuesday 21st November 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-C84A23
Object type: SCRAPER (TOOL)
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A small side scraper of Bronze Age date made from a re-utilised secondary cortical waste flake. The distal portion of one long side has been refined into a working edge using short, abrupt scaled retouch. The dorsal surface retains 60% of its buff coloured cortex.
Created on: Tuesday 21st November 2023
Last updated: Tuesday 21st November 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-C81E82
Object type: SCRAPER (TOOL)
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A small scraper of Bronze Age date struck from a tertiary waste flake of banded grey flint. The distal end has long semi-abrupt sub parallel retouch and the proximal edge has short abrupt retouch to defining working edges; this has been done through earlier surface recortication suggesting that this object is a re-used waste flake of a much earlier date, possibly originally Mesolithic or Neolithic.
Created on: Tuesday 21st November 2023
Last updated: Tuesday 21st November 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-C7F296
Object type: SCRAPER (TOOL)
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A small ovate scraper of later Neolithic to Bronze Age date struck from a secondary flake of grey flint. The distal end has long, low angle sub parallel retouch to define a working edge. The proximal end is covered in cortex has no evidence of a prepared striking platform, the flake having been removed directly from the nodule.
Created on: Tuesday 21st November 2023
Last updated: Tuesday 21st November 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DEV-E549F6
Object type: RIBBON
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A folded fragment of gold strip or ribbon, dating to the Bronze Age c. 2350-800 BC. The ribbon is rectangular in plan and made from a beaten sheet of gold. It has been folded or bent out of shape in several locations. One surface of the ribbon is decorated with thirteen regular, longitudinal, incised grooves, creating ridges. The exterior longitudinal edges are slightly thicker than the internal ridges, creating a border to the band. Both terminals appear to have been cut leaving a straight edge. The longitudinal edges have likely been smoothed, as they are rounder when compared w…
Created on: Wednesday 24th November 2021
Last updated: Monday 13th November 2023
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Broadwindsor CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: DOR-A990B5
Object type: SPEARHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete copper alloy projectile point. A small spearhead or large arrowhead. It is socketed with only part of the flaring socket remaining. The socket extends into the body of the object and appears to retain fibres in the solid filling it, possibly from the original wooden haft. The blades are short and leaf-shaped. There is a prominent, triangular mid rib along both faces, creating a lozengiform cross-section. The mid rib extends to the break at the tip. There is an area of modern damage to one face on the midrib . Date: Middle to Late Bronze Age  - c. 1550 …
Created on: Friday 21st July 2023
Last updated: Monday 16th October 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-74DCBE
Object type: SPEARHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete cast copper alloy Middle Bronze Age socketed flame-shaped spearhead, 63.3mm in length and probably of Davis’ (2012) Group 6 (developed side-looped type), dating to the earlier Middle Bronze Age, c.1550 - 1250 BC. The socket is incomplete, 14.3mm in diameter and ends in an old break. The socket tapers seamlessly into a thick rounded midrib which runs to the blade tip. The cross section is lenticular with a clear distinction between rounded midrib and the narrow, rounded wings which taper to the tip with slightly concave sides on the fron…
Created on: Thursday 23rd February 2023
Last updated: Thursday 12th October 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-7468F4
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete Middle Bronze Age unlooped primary / early palstave of Group 1 (following Schmidt and Burgess 1981), 157mm in length. The palstave has a low stop (17.1 thick) fused with flanges along the sides which taper smoothly back to the butt providing a lenticular side profile. The blade is wedge-shaped, with slightly concave sides and flares to approximately 53.3mm in width at the rounded cutting edge. There are traces of midribs along the blade and possible traces of a shield decoration on one face to the front of the stop. The surface has mostly been lost.
Created on: Thursday 23rd February 2023
Last updated: Thursday 12th October 2023
Spatial data recorded.