Record ID: WILT-4B374B
Object type: FLAT AXEHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete copper alloy flat axe of Early Bronze Age date (c. 2200 - 1900 BC). This example fits best into the category of the earliest known copper axes and early bronze axes discovered in Britain. These are dated to the Early Bronze Age of metalworking stage II, which corresponds to Needham's (1996) Period 2 c 2350- 2050 CAL. BC. The flat axe is sub-triangular in plan with a splayed crescent shaped blade.  From the cutting edge the body of the axe gradually narrows in form with the upper and lower edges tapering and curving a little inwards to …
Created on: Monday 30th May 2022
Last updated: Thursday 10th November 2022
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Nr Sevenoaks', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SUSS-14E8A7
Object type: METAL WORKING DEBRIS
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A large lump of copper, it's rounded appearence suggests it has cooled from molton metal in a crucible or other mould. One side is almost flat, the top is domed and the sides rounded, it may originally have been oval as it appears to have been cut on one face, the cut is now worn. It may have been made on site or have been carried here for metal working. It is difficult to give this item an exact date although study of the composition might help, a date of Bronze Age - post-medieval has thus been given although it is likely to sit within the earlier part of this range. It is 38.8mm l…
Created on: Thursday 13th December 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUSS-1F03E3
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete discoidal amber bead of uncertain date, probably dating from the Middle Bronze Age to Roman periods (c. 1500 BC-AD 410). They are most common to prehistoric assemblages in Southeastern England, most notably those of the Middle Bronze Age (cf. Treasure case 2011 T192). The remains of the bead consists of a 6.8 mm thick discoidal ring, with a central circular drilled hole. A portion of the outer edge of the bead has suffered damage, probably post-depositional in nature. The bead is of an even amber orange colour, with a matt surface to unbroken surfaces and a high glossy s…
Created on: Monday 19th August 2013
Last updated: Tuesday 14th June 2016
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUSS-213565
Object type: HOARD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A small late bronze age metalworking hoard comprising of two copper-alloy bun ingot fragments probably dating to the Ewart Park/Llyn Fawr phase c. 850-600 BC. Fragment no: 1. a fragment of a copper alloy bun ingot with a flat base and a soft chamfered, external edge. Measurements: length 56.31mm; width: 34.52mm; height: 41.30mm and weight: 193.25g. Fragment no: 2. a fragment of a copper alloy bun ingot with a flat base and a soft chamfered external edge. Measurements: length: 37.10mm; width: 24.22mm; height: 33.42mm and weight: 76.34g. Discussion: Th…
Created on: Thursday 10th June 2021
Last updated: Wednesday 6th July 2022
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Near Tenterden', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SUSS-EAD4E2
Object type: BLADE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A middle to late Bronze Age copper alloy blade fragment dating c.1600-800BC. The cast blade fragment is rectangular in plan with a lenticular cross-section and worn breaks. Both cutting edges are worn and abraded, and the blade has a raised rib in the centre of each face. The blade tapers in width from 24.94mm to 23.61mm. The metal surface is pitted and corroded, with a buff green colour.  Measurements: length 25.99mm, width 25.28mm, thickness 7.45mm, weight 18.43g. The original length of the blade is unknown and the fragment could be from a sword, knife, ra…
Created on: Thursday 6th October 2022
Last updated: Tuesday 11th October 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUSS-F4CCA6
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete middle bronze age copper alloy palstave axehead, probably a Group 2 Early Mid ribbed type (Schmidt and Burgess 1981) dating to the Acton Park/Taunton phase c. 1500-1250 BC. The palstave is almost complete with the blade corners missing.  The butt is worn and rounded; the axehead has a rectangular septum with parallel sides and a slightly curved stop ridge. The edges of the flanges rise with a convex profile from the butt edge, dropping slightly to the stop ridge; beyond which the blade tapers to the cutting edge. The blade corners are missin…
Created on: Tuesday 6th June 2023
Last updated: Tuesday 13th June 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUSS-224AF6
Object type: SPEARHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Published
This artefact is a Bronze Age socketed, leaf shaped spearhead with peg holes. The artefact has been broken across its blade. This break shows that the artefact has been made from two pieces for copper alloy which have then been welded together, therefore creating a hollow section. The spearhead is 81.3mm in length. The widest part of the spearhead (blade) measures 40.6mm and the thinnest part measures 39.1mm. The socket of the spearhead (at it's widest) measures 25.8mm and 21.1mm where the socket meets the spearhead proper. The spearhead (width and the thickness) tapers to where th…
Created on: Monday 24th November 2003
Last updated: Thursday 1st June 2023
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Dover', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SUSS-ED7B49
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Published
A complete Middle to Late Bronze Age copper-alloy early unlooped palstave of primary phase group II dating c. 1500-1250 BC. There is no loop on the palstave. The blade of the palstave is sub-trapezoidal in plan with straight sides and flared blade tips. The blade edge is abraded, slightly blunt and has small notch at one end of the blade. Both faces of the blade are decorated with a single rib which falls short of the stop ridge and at the opposing end terminates in a triangular wedge aligned and extending into the upper edge of the blade facet. The sides of t…
Created on: Saturday 23rd September 2023
Last updated: Wednesday 20th March 2024
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-4C7C85
Object type: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
The blade of a socketed axe of Late Bronze Age date. The hollow is asymmetrically cast and one long side has a very thin wall. There are nicks in the blade edge.
Created on: Wednesday 12th July 2006
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-D441E7
Object type: SWORD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A copper alloy blade fragment from a sword of probably Late Bronze Age date, c1150-700BC. The blade has a slight bend in its profile. In section the blade edges are bevelled.
Created on: Saturday 2nd February 2013
Last updated: Tuesday 19th March 2013
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-F4D595
Object type: SPEARHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
The extreme tip of the socket of a possibly Late Bronze Age copper-alloy spearhead with a sharply widening blade, flattened arms and sharp internal corners.
Created on: Tuesday 24th October 2017
Last updated: Thursday 26th March 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-C1E343
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An Middle Bronze Age unlooped palstave axe. The axe is complete and in good condition and has a crudely incised shield pattern on either side below the stop ridge. Both side show extensive evidence of hammering as well as sharpening striations on the blade. The length of the axe is 141.11mm and the width of the blade is 53.96mm. The maximum thickness is 25.49mm and the axe weighs 335g. Peter Reavill comments: This is a Primary Shield pattern unloopeed pastave. The notch in the butt seems relatively common.The axe is very wedge-like in shape and the out-turned crescentic tips of…
Created on: Monday 16th April 2012
Last updated: Monday 16th April 2012
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-1B64F5
Object type: UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Published
A folded gold strip comprising eleven gold wires joined side by side by soldering. Max. length 15.93mm; max. width 8.14mm; max. thickness 4.4mm; thickness of wire approx.. 0.62mm; weight 2.26 grams. Both manufacturing technique and composition are consistent with a Bronze Age date, although precise analogues for the type are presently lacking. Gold ribbon ornaments are known from the Middle Bronze Age, c. 1300-1100 BC, but the ribbed effect is achieved here by grooving (cf the piece from Ilam, Staffs. (Treasure Annual Report 2005/6, 20, no.14). Solder is used at this date in the…
Created on: Tuesday 25th September 2012
Last updated: Tuesday 5th December 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-30F173
Object type: VESSEL
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Published
A fragment from a cast copper alloy ribbed lug handle from a late Bronze Age bucket. Dot Bruns comments: "This is a fragment from either an Atlantic bucket, Danubian style series, Type Nannau-Dowris or a Hiberno-British bucket like the ones from Dowalton and Duddingston Loch, both in the National Museum in Edinburgh. These are nos 166 and 167 in Gerloff's catalogue respectively and the date is c. late Wilburton-Ewart Park metalwork tradition, that is c. 1100-800BC. Gerloff does date the buckets into the Llyn Fawr period, but I am not sure what her evidence is - I certainly haven…
Created on: Wednesday 26th September 2012
Last updated: Monday 25th March 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-C68C63
Object type: SWORD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A section from the blade of a sword of Bronze Age date. The fragment is small and comes from near the tip. Only a small area of the original surface survives.
Created on: Tuesday 10th January 2012
Last updated: Tuesday 10th January 2012
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-267CEF
Object type: FLAT AXEHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete copper alloy miniature flat axe or possibly a chisel, 59.5mm in length and dating to the early to late early Bronze Age (2050 BC- 1700BC). The axe has straight sides, expanding into a cutting edge, which is curved and 26mm across, with a cutting edge around 1mm thick. The butt end narrows to 15.1mm in width and is slightly convex. There are no flanges or other features. The profile of the axe is lenticular or an elongated pointed oval with a maximum thickness at the centre of 7.3mm. The surface is heavily pitted with the brownish-green patina of copper-alloy - suggesting a …
Created on: Wednesday 19th September 2018
Last updated: Thursday 1st December 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SOM-C304F9
Object type: INGOT
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Fragment of a copper-alloy ingot of probable late Bronze Age date, c. 1150 - 600BC. Part of a plano-convex (bun) discoid ingot possibly suggesting the production in a bowl furnace rather than a mould. The upper is flat and the bottom is convex. Only a small section remains with a part of the original edge and very worn irregular breaks on the other sides. The section of the outside edge is too small to idenify the complete diameter. The ingot is pitted likely due to a mix of impurities in its matrix and the uneven natural material used to create the bowl in which it was cast. …
Created on: Monday 27th November 2017
Last updated: Monday 4th December 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: PUBLIC-A33C01
Object type: UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A copper alloy probable bead dating from the Bronze Age to the Roman period. The bead has a D-shaped cross section. It is decorated with a cricumferential ridge at the mid pint and a slight lip around the opening on eache side. It measures 25.2mm in diameter and is 5.5mm thick.It's width is 19mm and the internal hole has a diameter of 15mm. It weighs 20g.
Created on: Saturday 4th December 2010
Last updated: Saturday 16th April 2016
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'River Medway', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: PUBLIC-D57C91
Object type: AWL
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete Bronze Age cast copper alloy awl. It is rectangular in cross section, tapering to a point on one end, with the opposite end being roughly squared. It is plain, with no obvious forms of decoration. The awl is in fair condition, and is corroded. This is likely to date to 2500-700 BC. It is 31.98 mm L x 5.01 mm W x 5.27 mm TH. It weighs 2.73 g. Ref: Read, B. 2001. Metal Artefacts in Antiquity. Langport: Portcullis Publishing
Created on: Tuesday 19th October 2010
Last updated: Monday 26th September 2016
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Springhead', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: PUBLIC-DAE625
Object type: BLADE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a Middle to Late Bronze Age blade from a dirk, rapier or sword. The sub-rectangular piece has been broken off at both ends. Both surfaces are convex, but there is no sign of a pronounced mid rib. The fragment tapers slightly (W. 28-26mm) and has an elongated lozenge-shaped section (Th. 4-7mm).
Created on: Monday 12th September 2011
Last updated: Tuesday 3rd January 2012
Spatial data recorded.