https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/templates/general_wide/img/logo.png https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/miscellaneous.html https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/miscellaneous/chisel-58913.html Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:28:17 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A small copper-alloy chisel or similar tool of uncertain age. The body is mainly of sub-triangular cross-section with the forged blade end extending from the base and flaring towards the cutting edge. The cutting edge is angled from each side but has a deep notch at the centre, possibly caused accidentally. The striking end transitions to a rounder cross-section than the remainder of the body and shows signs of peening from repeated hammer-blows. The use of copper-alloy for a cutting tool that was designed to be be repeatedly struck with a hammer would suggest an ancient date prior to the widespread adoption of iron for such purposes. However, the possibility of later use of the material in makeshift circumstances, or for special purposes, cannot be excluded. Cf. PAS: LIN-D11AE7
Category:		Bronze Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/miscellaneous/ring-57830.html Fri, 02 Feb 2024 16:14:43 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A cast copper-alloy ring of sub-lozenge cross section, likely dating from the middle Bronze Age to the later Iron Age period. The surface displays a smoothly worn and glossy brown patination which is often associated with metallic objects with a high tin content. There are some minor patches of outer layer corrosion. The use of these rings is uncertain, but they probably had a decorative function, such as dress accessories or harness adornment. See also NMS-EAF666 & LEIC-ACE86F as similar period examples.
Category:		Bronze Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/miscellaneous/hack-gold-57747.html Tue, 28 Nov 2023 21:46:53 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A piece of hack gold, believed to date to the Bronze Age. The piece was found in the same area as four other pieces recorded as UKDFD 56288 (PAS Ref. 2020 T554).
Category:		Bronze Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/miscellaneous/tanged-chisel-56710.html Wed, 23 Mar 2022 01:28:58 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A cast copper-alloy tanged chisel dating from the Middle to Late Bronze Age. The chisel is generally rectangular in section, the upper half incurving and narrowing to form the handle tang, the opposite working end expanding in width to form a curved cutting edge.
Category:		Bronze Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/miscellaneous/winged-scabbard-chape-56712.html Wed, 23 Mar 2022 02:14:18 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A cast copper-alloy object, believed to be an early form of scabbard chape of a type first made circa 1000 BC. As imaged, the centre of the casting has a constriction from which two 'wings' project upwards and outwards in a typical 'moustache-shaped' manner. There is a sub-circular hole through the middle of the object. On each wing there are barely visible incised grooves running lengthwise. The ends are plain and taper to slender blunt points. These objects are all distinctly shaped, but some including this example, are more 'droopy' in appearance than others. The object is now one in a growing corpus and the collective hypothesis is that they were in use during the Bronze Age and Iron Age periods. Suggested uses include sword scabbard chapes or sword pommels. Some examples, like this one, have constrictions and holes through the centre, whilst others have blind recesses of differing shapes. The object still remains enigmatic. See also; UKDFD 42723, UKDFD 21510, UKDFD 7213 & BH-BD3AFC
Category:		Bronze Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/miscellaneous/gold-basket-ornament-56683.html Wed, 09 Mar 2022 19:50:41 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A Copper Age (Chalcolithic) gold ornamental piece of jewellery, of a form collectively described as 'basket ornament'. The item has been neatly and deliberately folded into a small parcel, once along the length and then both ends turned into the centre. The shape when open is an oval or sub-rectangular plate with an elongated tab projecting from the top centre of one long side. The plate appears to have been decorated with the application of curvilinear repoussé lines following the peripheral pattern, but creasing makes confirmation difficult via image alone. There may also be further decoration within the folds that cannot be seen at this time to confirm classification. These objects are extremely rare items from the time period concerned within the British Isles. They are associated with high status 'Beaker People' burials and have been found in context at the head-end of the body, so are thought to be ornamental hair or possibly ear embellishments. The plate is simply rolled into a tube or semi-open tube, and the elongated tab centrally wrapped around. It is from this form that the collective term 'basket ornament' is applied. See example held at The British Museum.  The Chalcolithic period is when gold and copper first arrived in Britain from the continent. This was towards the end of the Neolithic period and the very beginning of the Bronze Age (before tin was known to be added to copper to make bronze). At this time Stonehenge was approaching completion and Beaker People were arriving from modern day Europe. The most celebrated archeological excavation and discovery from this time was of course The Amesbury Archer, buried with high-status objects including two gold basket ornaments a short distance from Stonehenge itself. In this case, it is unusual that the ornament has been folded, and may indicate that it was deposited in a ritual context. The fact this ornament was also found in close proximity to both Amesbury and Stonehenge makes the find even more significant and of special importance. See also; BERK-0D1A05, GLO-92912E, DUR-02828D, BERK-F548E6 & IOW-B16625
Category:		Bronze Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/miscellaneous/hack-gold-56288.html Fri, 03 Sep 2021 19:10:59 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		Four pieces of hack gold, believed to date to the Bronze Age, but in the process of analysis and further examination at the time of recording. It is possible that further pieces will be discovered on the site, in which case they will be added to this record.
Category:		Bronze Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/miscellaneous/socketed-gouge-56138.html Mon, 28 Jun 2021 04:58:18 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		An incomplete socketed gouge of the Late Bronze Age. The surviving part consists of the hollowed shaft and curved edge of the cutting end. The socketed end is missing, but the bottom of the socket remains on the transverse fracture surface. Cf. PAS: SUR-1536D1
Category:		Bronze Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/miscellaneous/torc-55703.html Wed, 04 Nov 2020 12:40:24 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A twisted torc or neck ring of The Middle Bronze Age. The torc is formed from a circular section, spirally twisted copper-alloy rod, widest at the centre, slightly tapering towards the terminal ends. At either end of the spiral section, a short tapered length of the rod has been left untwisted and each would have terminated with a hook (now missing) to fasten it together. See also: PAS SUR-9A711C and UKDFD 37990
Category:		Bronze Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/miscellaneous/pin-55702.html Mon, 02 Nov 2020 23:05:39 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		An incomplete cast copper-alloy pin, probably a 'Picardy' type pin of the Middle Bronze Age. The head is discoidal with a flat top and a  slightly convex underside. The top is decorated with a concentric ring of punched dots close to the edge. However part of the edge has now crumbled such that the five or six surviving dots represent only about half of the original number. The shaft is of circular cross-section and is now bent into a hook-like shape, the end of which is missing. It is severely corroded, but appears to be slightly swollen towards the broken end. No decoration of the shaft is apparent, but any that was originally present would most likely have been lost due to the corrosion.
Category:		Bronze Age, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]>