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: SOM-4A4DA2
Object type: DEBITAGE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Sevon incomplete flakes prehistoric flint debitage. The flakes represent a number of flint sources, and are a mix of tertiary and secondary flakes, although where it survives the area still covered by cortex is invariably small. The proximal end survives on three flakes, these all have relatively diffuse bulbs of percussion, only one exhibiting a bulbar scar and with one exhibtiign a slight 'lip' at the platform, suggesting the use of a soft hammer. One flake exhibits platform preparation, and clear evidence of multiple striking platforms. The flakes exhibit a mixture of sub-parallel …
Created on: Tuesday 10th July 2018
Last updated: Tuesday 10th July 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SOM-A4086B
Object type: BRACELET
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Description: A rolled fragment from a gold bracelet dating to the Middle Bronze Age c.1400-1100 cal BC. The bracelet is made from a single rectangular gold sheet whose section is possibly slightly crescent shaped with a convex outer surface and concave inner surface. The long outer edges of the sheet are also slightly expanded. This has been tightly rolled down its length over 450 degrees. One terminal is at the centre of the spiral so that it is not possible to determine if it was broken or represents the original end however it clearly ends with a clean transverse edge. The opposite…
Created on: Thursday 15th March 2018
Last updated: Friday 17th March 2023
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Piddletrenthide', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-6BBF8D
Object type: BLADE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A small fragment of a Bronze Age copper alloy blade, probably dating to c. 2400-900 BC. The fragment comprises of the tip of the blade, being sub-triangular in plan, tapering gradually from an old break to a slightly rounded point. The fragment has a very narrow pointed oval cross section, narrowing to a point on each edge of the blade. Length: 31.0mm, Width: 13.8mm, Thickness: 3.3 mm, Weight: 5.51g.
Created on: Monday 13th March 2017
Last updated: Monday 20th November 2017
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Sturminster Newton CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-8EBFD3
Object type: SCRAPER (TOOL)
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Knapped flint end scraper made on a secondary flake. It is broadly oval in plan (rounded). There is a prominent bulb of percusison on the ventral face with bulb scars, and the flake has been removed from a prepared platform a section of which remains at the proximal end. It is triangular in section with an aris running down the centre of the dorsal face ending in a patch of cortex at the distal end covering c. 5% of the face. The scars on the dorsal face suggest previous parallel removals form the same platform. The retouch extends around the distal end and two thirds of the way do…
Created on: Thursday 24th April 2014
Last updated: Monday 28th April 2014
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Frampton', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-5E0AB6
Object type: TORC
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
Curved fragment of a Middle Bronze Age, 1400-1100 BC, copper-alloy twisted ribbon torc. The fragment has six twists with old, patinated, breaks at each end. The twists are slightly tighter at the ends than in the centre and the curve is uneven suggesting it has been bent out of shape. The 'ribbon' is a flattened pointed oval in section with edges which come to a point. The fragment is 64.8mm long, the ribbon varies from 8.0 to 7.3mm wide and is 2.0mm thick. The fragment weighs 8.28 grams. There are two Middle Bronze Age bronze ribbon torcs known from Somerset from the hoards at Edi…
Created on: Monday 25th April 2011
Last updated: Sunday 5th April 2020
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Near Sherborne', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-517AF1
Object type: BRACELET
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete copper-alloy annular bracelet/arm-ring probably of Bronze Age date. The bracelet, which has an internal diameter of 64.5mm, an external diameter of 81.8mm and a width of 16.6mm has a sub-triangular section with a flat inner side and rounded apex running around the centre of the outer side. The surfaces are heavily pitted and there is a crack at one point. The remaining original surface does not show any incised decoration however too much of the surface has been lost to definitively state whether it was decorated or not. Similar plain and incised (Liss-type) brac…
Created on: Thursday 18th November 2010
Last updated: Friday 15th February 2013
No spatial data available.

Record ID: SOM-6E7416
Object type: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment from the blade of a cast copper alloy socketed axehead of late Bronze Age date. The fragment measures 35.4mm by 22.2mm by 9.5mm and weighs 27.4g. The blade flares out slightly as its cross-section narrows. One face is particularly worn and one corner of the blade is damaged.
Created on: Monday 4th August 2008
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Cerne Abbas', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-B251B3
Object type: AWL
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A cast copper awl of possible Bronze Age date. The awl measures 51.2mm by 6.2mm by 4.9mm and weighs 5.1g. It has a broadly rectangular cross-section and tapers to a blunt point at each end.
Created on: Friday 2nd May 2008
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Portesham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-6D7E72
Object type: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a cast copper alloy socketed axehead or socketed chisel of late Bronze Age date. The fragment measures 32.3mm by 32.9mm by 8.6mm and weighs 12.8g. It comprises the straight cutting edge and a short length of the tapering axehead. One side survives more intact than the other. The socket reaches almost to the cutting edge. In the centre of each side there is a longitudinal casting seam.
Created on: Friday 25th May 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Maiden Newton', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-6D0A27
Object type: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a cast copper alloy socketed axehead of late Bronze Age date. The fragment measures 42.3mm by 28.5mm by 5.4mm and weighs 27.7g. It comprises part of two sides of the socket, which has a thickened edge and an adjacent transverse linear moulding, and a short length of the axhead itself. There is a further longitudinal moulding in the centre of one of the surviving sides. A smaller fragment of copper alloy was found nearby. Although it does not appear to join with the larger fragment, the thickness, general appearance and patina are consistent and the two fragments may we…
Created on: Friday 25th May 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Overcompton', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-6BB778
Object type: SCRAPER (TOOL)
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A flint thumbnail scraper of probable early Bronze Age date. The scraper has been made froma tertiary flake. At the proximal end on the ventral surface is a bulb of percussion and a marked bulbar scar. Ripples radiate down the ventral surface. On the dorsal surface there are a number of flaking scars and the distal end has been abruptly retouched. The mid to dark grey flint has a mid-gloss patina. Dimensions: 32.4mm by 29.2mm by 9.3mm Weight: 9.9g
Created on: Friday 25th May 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Over Compton', grid reference and parish protected.