TREASURE ANNU AL REPORT 2005/6 - Portable Antiquities Scheme

32. Donhead st mary’s, Wiltshire: Late bronze Age
gold bracelet fragment (2005 T1)
Date: c. 1000–800 BC
Discovery: Found by Mr P Lawler while metal-detecting
in November 2004.
Description: A roughly annular band with a small
overlap, it can be assumed that the original form was
a penannular bracelet with two matching thickened
terminals and a broad gently c-shaped band section,
which survives in the reworked form. One end is a
slightly thickened terminal of thin crescentic shape, the
other is a thin, wavy edge, most likely the product of
the reworking of a broken end. Remodelling after this
loss involved pulling the two ends together to overlap
and tying them together with a thread (not surviving)
passed through crude perforations. Contraction of the
diameter caused the band to bend into a fairly even
pentagon with obtuse angles. Weight: 21.1g.
Surface analysis indicated a gold content of
approximately 90%.
Discussion: The original ornament is very likely to have
been a penannular bracelet of c-section with slightly
thickened, beaded terminals. C-section bracelets occur
in a few Late Bronze Age hoards, although usually
with much stronger out-turned terminals. A group
of bracelets in the Matignon hoard, Côtes d’Armor,
Brittany, are more similar to the Donhead example
(Eluère 1982, 181 fig.169).
Disposition: Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum.
S P NEEDHAM
33. padstow, Cornwall: possible bronze Age
gold fragment (2005 T110)
Date: Possibly Bronze Age
Discovery: Found by Mr J Clemes while metaldetecting
in February 2005.
Description: A roughly trapezoidal fragment of gold;
the broader end is flattened and cut (or flattened and
broken off) and there is a rough break at the opposite,
narrower end. The long edges have slight flanges, more
marked on one face; the ‘flange’ at the narrow edge is
probably a result of breaking. Length: 12.6mm; width:
8mm; thickness: 2mm; weight: 1.53g. Surface analysis
indicated a gold content of approximately 85–88%.
Although the composition is compatible with a Bronze
Age date, the fragment is undiagnostic.
Disposition: Royal Cornwall Museum.
G VARNDELL
34. Wembury, Devon: probable bronze Age
gold ingot (2005 T123)
Date: Probably Late Bronze Age
Discovery: Found by Mr M Holland while metaldetecting
in March 2005.
Description: Cast gold ingot of roughly D-shaped
section.
Discussion: One datable associated find of ingot
casts of this type is from Mooghaun, Co. Clare, where
other items in the hoard are known to date to the
Late Bronze Age (Eogan 1994, Pl. XV). The simplicity
of the form and the lack of archaeological context for
most finds of finger-ingots make firm dating difficult.
However, the composition is compatible with a Bronze
Age date. Length: 50mm; weight: 26.22g. Surface
analysis indicated a gold content of
approximately 82%.
Disposition: Plymouth City Museum.
G VARNDELL
35. Charminster, Dorset: probable bronze Age
gold pendant (2006 T380)
Date: Probably Bronze Age
Discovery: Found by Mr R Tydeman while metaldetecting
in September 2004.
Description: A cigar-shaped strip of gold with subsquare
terminals. The two long sides are asymmetric,
one being more bowed than the other, but this may be
due to a stronger buckle affecting the latter. The long
edges have marginal lipping from edge finishing. The
perforation is circular at its entrance and tapers to a
less regular shape on the rear face where it pushes lips
of metal through; it would appear to have been pierced
with a partly rotary action.
The reverse face presents a matt surface with a subtle
texture probably resulting from the anvil (stone?) it
was worked on. In contrast, the obverse is burnished
and bears many longitudinal striations, some relatively
coarse, probably the products of ancient finishing
and use-wear. Length: 73.7mm; max. edge thickness:
0.5mm; weight: 4.0g. Surface analysis indicated a gold
content of approximately 84–86%.
Discussion: Although the object is a little contorted,
there is no evidence that it was once curled round
into a ring. It would seem to have been a finished
and, indeed, well-used suspended ornament, perhaps
a pendant or decorative tab dangling from an item
of clothing. It does not belong to an established type
of the British Bronze Age, but both form and metal
composition would be in keeping with such a date.
Disposition: Dorset County Museum hopes to acquire.
S P NEEDHAM
36. sixpenny handley, Dorset: possible bronze Age
gold strip fragment (2006 T514)
Date: Possibly Bronze Age
Discovery: Picked up from the surface by Mrs M
Hamilton in October 2006.
Description: A small fragment of gold strip tapering to
a tongue-shaped terminal, where it has been pierced,
slightly off-centre. The piercing has been carried
out from the slightly less dull side. The piece is very
weathered, and there is some cracking across the width
where it seems to have been folded. Length: 38.5mm;
thickness: 0.5mm approx; weight: 1.63g. Surface
analysis indicated a gold content of approximately
84–87%.
Discussion: The fragment is part of a larger piece,
which while not crescentic probably had some
curvature. Presumably the perforation, which could
have been repeated at the other end, was either for
suspension or for attachment to clothing. It is not an
established British Bronze Age type but the form and
metal composition are in keeping with such a date.
It may be compared with the possible Bronze Age
pendant from Charminster, Dorset (this volume, no. 35).
Disposition: Dorset County Museum hopes to acquire.
G VARNDELL
37. brixton Deverill, Wiltshire: possible bronze Age
gold ribbon fragment (2006 T250)
Date: Possibly Bronze Age
Discovery: Found by Mr P Bancroft while metaldetecting
in September 2005.
Description: The fragment comprises one end of
a ribbon of gold the sides converging in a convex
curve towards a perforated terminal. The long edges
are thickened outside a light, inset crease. The
terminal’s end has been torn off leaving just half of
the perforation extant. The ribbon has a number of
buckles and a partial fracture crossing transversely
at one point. Length: 32.2mm; max. width: 9.6mm;
weight: 1.2g. Surface analysis indicated a gold content
of approximately 85–87% and confirmed a potentially
ancient metal composition.
Discussion: The incomplete nature of this object and
the lack of diagnostic features makes it difficult to
identify its original form. A range of ribbon, or strip
ornaments in gold are known from the British Bronze
Age, including for torcs, bracelets and small fittings. It
is possible that this fragment belongs to this repertoire
and may be of future research interest if better parallels
come to light.
Disposition: Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum
hopes to acquire.
S P NEEDHAM
38. havant, hampshire: Late bronze Age gold
penannular ring with base-metal core (2006 T176)
pAs ID: hAmp-6C7C91
Found by Mr A Lailey while gardening in 2001;
disclaimed, returned to finder.
G VARNDELL
39. Aldingbourne, West sussex: Late bronze Age
gold penannular ring with base-metal core
(2006 T620) pAs ID: suss-597710
Found by Ms A Kirk while metal-detecting in 2003;
disclaimed, returned to finder.
L ANDREWS-WILSON
40. Lichfield, staffordshire: possible bronze Age
gold rod fragment (2005 T517) pAs ID: pAs-83D4C4
Found by Mr D Rubenis while metal-detecting in
October 2005; disclaimed, returned to finder.
G VARNDELL
(II) muLTIpLE DEposITs
41. ottery st. mary, Devon: middle bronze Age
scatter (2006 T36)
Date: c. 1400–1275 BC
Discovery: Found by Mr G Smith while metaldetecting
in November/December 2005, in an area
15m x 10m approx.
Description:
1. Looped palstave, fragment. Complete blade with part
of loop. Defined edge bevels and a broad central rib on
both faces. The loop is incomplete, areas of the flange
are missing close to the junction with the blade and
the end of the butt is damaged. Length: 90.6mm; W.
blade edge: 58.7mm; weight: 263.9g.
2. Looped palstave, fragment. Butt end, joins with no.1,
above. Trace of looped handle. Casting flashes removed.
Incomplete at butt end and corrosion-reduced flange
crests. Length: 63.65mm; width: 24.95mm;
weight: 94.3g.
Flange sides are short and would originally have been
petal-shaped with a flat edge level with the butt.
3. Casting jet, copper alloy. Casting seams on two sides.
There is an oblong ‘scar’ left from the runner. Length:
41mm; width: 27.5mm; weight: 83.4g.
Discussion: The joined palstave is of a standard
type for the Middle Bronze Age and specifically the
Taunton phase, which is widely distributed from sites in
south-west Britain. No. 3 is of particular interest since
casting jets of this period are unusual finds. This hoard
constitutes an important addition to our knowledge of
the Middle Bronze Age period in the south-west
of Britain.
Disposition: Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter
hopes to acquire.
S WORRELL
24 BRONZE AGE BRONZE AGE 25