https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/templates/general_wide/img/logo.png UKDFD Recording Software https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ Bronze Age https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age.html Chisel https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/miscellaneous/chisel-58913.html Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:28:17 GMT Miscellaneous Chisel  
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
]]> Axe or Chisel (Fragment) https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/axes/axe-or-chisel-fragment-58740.html Sun, 03 Aug 2025 15:46:42 GMT Axes Axe or Chisel (Fragment)  
Description: A fragment of a Bronze-Age axe, or possibly a chisel, consisting of the blade end only. The fragment is sub-rectangular in side elevation and sub-triangular in plan. The cutting edge is slightly convex. The fractured surface of the broken end suggests that the tool may have been socketed, but this cannot be confirmed from the images.

Cf. UKDFD 53641
Category: Bronze Age, Axes
Category: Axes
]]> Awl or Stylus https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/awls/awl-or-stylus-58478.html Sat, 01 Mar 2025 21:50:41 GMT Awls Awl or Stylus  
Description: A cast copper-alloy tool of a type usually identified as an awl or stylus, but whose exact use is uncertain. The tool consists of a sub-square-section bar with tapered ends, both of which terminate in blunt points. The bar has a rounded bend of approximately thirty degrees mid-way along its length.

Tools of generally similar type have been found in contexts from the Middle Bronze Age, but some are believed to be much later. Those recovered from topsoil cannot be closely dated.
Category: Bronze Age, Awls
Category: Awls
]]> Awl https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/awls/awl-58221.html Wed, 18 Sep 2024 19:21:20 GMT Awls Awl  
Description: A cast copper-alloy tool of a type usually identified as an 'awl', but whose exact use is uncertain. The tool consists of a bar with tapered ends and a parallel central section. One tapered end is of circular cross-section with a blunt-pointed tip. The other end is of square cross-section with a flat, rounded tip. The central section has 'barley-twist' decoration.

The awl possibly dates to the Late Bronze Age (cf. PAS: BH-1F55A9), but the same basic form was still being used at least as late as the early Roman period.
Category: Bronze Age, Awls
Category: Awls
]]> Spearhead (Fragment) https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/spears/spearhead-fragment-58036.html Mon, 03 Jun 2024 16:45:31 GMT Spears Spearhead (Fragment)  
Description:

The pointed tip of a socketed Middle to Late Bronze Age spearhead. The fragment is leaf-shaped with a pronounced rib on each side.
Category: Bronze Age, Spears
Category: Spears
]]> Ring https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/miscellaneous/ring-57830.html Fri, 02 Feb 2024 16:14:43 GMT Miscellaneous Ring  
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
]]> Hack Gold https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/miscellaneous/hack-gold-57747.html Tue, 28 Nov 2023 21:46:53 GMT Miscellaneous Hack Gold  
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
]]> Awl https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/awls/awl-57038.html Tue, 01 Nov 2022 12:51:43 GMT Awls Awl  
Description: A cast copper-alloy tool, usually identified as an awl, but whose exact use is uncertain. The tool is cast in the form of a rod, the length of which is divided into a longer part (approximately 60%) of square cross-section and a shorter part (approximately 40%) of round cross-section. The square-section part tapers slightly and terminates in a chisel-shaped end. The round-section part tapers more markedly and terminates in a point.

Tools of generally similar type have been found in contexts from the Middle Bronze Age, but some are believed to be much later. Those recovered from topsoil cannot be closely dated.
Category: Bronze Age, Awls
Category: Awls
]]> Dagger https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/daggers-knives-rapiers-and-swords/dagger-56912.html Mon, 05 Sep 2022 18:49:04 GMT Daggers, knives, rapiers and swords Dagger  
Description: A  cast copper-alloy dagger of the Early to Middle Bronze Age period. The dagger has a slightly tapered blade with a rounded point and a flared butt-end. The blade is of lenticular cross-section with a slight mid-rib and thinned edges. The butt-end, which would have been attached to a wood or bone handle, is now incomplete. 

Cf. PAS: KENT-E34693, DENO-8FD7A7 and SUR-EA4308
Category: Bronze Age, Daggers, knives, rapiers and swords
Category: Daggers, knives, rapiers and swords
]]> Flanged Axe https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/bronze-age/axes/flanged-axe-56833.html Sun, 15 May 2022 13:47:32 GMT Axes Flanged Axe  
Description: A flanged axe of the Early Bronze Age. The axe has a slightly flared blade end with a crescentic cutting edge, The flanges on each side are of equal size and extend almost the full length of the axe. There is very little evidence of a bevelled face or stop ridge. The butt end is rounded. The axe is complete, but has suffered some corrosion damage at the extremities. The form represents an early stage of development from the flat axe to the palstave axe of the Middle Bronze Age.

Cf. PAS: YORYM-0D0388
Category: Bronze Age, Axes
Category: Axes
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