NHER 4887 (Find Spot record) - Bronze Age axehead and possible Neolithic axehead from Methwold Churchyard

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Summary

A small Bronze Age copper alloy flanged axehead was found in the 19th century. A Neolithic flint axehead may also have been recovered in 1881. In the 1980s an Early Saxon florid cruciform brooch terminal, disc brooch and Late Saxon strap-ends were recovered as stray finds.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TL79SW
Civil Parish METHWOLD, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Map

1881? Stray find. [1].
Small example of flanged axe, ornamented with a fluted pattern on the sides (length 8.4cm).
See (S1) and (S2).
Exhibited to the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society by Fitch.
In (S3) the locality is not given.
(S4) records as Megaw type IIIB.
R.R. Clarke (NCM). Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 30 March 2020.

(S5) says a flint axe was found in the churchyard in 1881 - is this a confusion with this? [2].
E. Rose (NLA). Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 30 March 2020.

1980s? Stray find. [3].
Early Saxon florid cruciform brooch terminal.
See X-ray (S6) and Illustrations (S7) and (S8).
A. Beckham (HES), 30 March 2020.

1980s? Stray find. [3].
Middle/Late Saxon strap-ends.
See find description in file, llustrations (S9) and (S10) and Polaroid (S12).
A. Beckham (HES), 30 March 2020.

Before 14 November 1985. Stray find.
Late Saxon disc brooch.
See description in file, Illustration (S11) and Polaroid (S12).
A. Beckham (HES), 30 March 2020.

  • --- Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1996. TL 7394N - P; TL 7395F.
  • --- Archive: British Museum. 1913 onwards. Bronze Age Index.
  • --- Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Bronze Age. Methwold.
  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • <S1> Publication: Rye, W. 1909. Catalogue of Antiquities Found Principally in East Anglia. p 22; No 224.
  • <S10> Illustration: Penn, K. [unknown]. Drawing of a Middle-Late Saxon strap-end. Find Illustration. Film. [unknown].
  • <S11> Illustration: [Unknown]. 1985?. Drawing of a Late Saxon disc brooch. Find Illustration. Film. 2:1.
  • <S12> Photograph: NCC Find Identification and Recording Service. c. 1975-2000. HES Find Polaroid Collection. HES Find Polaroid Collection. polaroid. black and white. Polaroid No.: 10613, 10625.
  • <S2> Article in Serial: 1879. Appendix. Extracts from the Proceedings of the Committee and the General Meetings. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol VIII pp 326-341. p 327.
  • <S3> Publication: Evans, J. 1881. The Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Ireland. p 52; Fig 12.
  • <S4> Article in Serial: Megaw, B. R. S. and Hardy, E. M. 1938. British Decorated Axes and their Diffusion during the Earlier Part of the Bronze Age. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. Vol IV Pt 2 pp 272-307. p 300.
  • <S5> Monograph: Bryant, T. H. 1900. Hundred of Grimshoe. The Churches of Norfolk.
  • <S6> X-ray: [Unknown]. [unknown]. X-ray of an Early Saxon Cruciform brooch terminal. Film.
  • <S7> Illustration: [Unknown]. [unknown]. Drawing of a x-ray of an Early Saxon Cruciform brooch terminal. Film. 2:1.
  • <S8> Illustration: [Unknown]. [unknown]. Drawing of an Early Saxon Cruciform brooch terminal. Film. 2:1?.
  • <S9> Illustration: Penn, K. [unknown]. Drawing of a Middle-Late Saxon zoomorphic strap-end. Find Illustration. Film. 2:1 and 4:1.
  • AXEHEAD (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • FLANGED AXEHEAD (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • STRAP END (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 651 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BROOCH (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Jun 30 2020 1:30PM

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