NHER 63730 (Find Spot record) - Late Bronze Age hoard

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Summary

Metal-detecting in 2019 uncovered a Late Bronze Age metalwork hoard comprising several complete socketed axeheads, numerous incomplete and fragmentary socketed axeheads, a knife, an unidentified object fragment, ingots and various irregular lumps or ingot. One of the socketed axeheads was also found to contain part of a Middle Bronze Age palstave. A number of Late Bronze Age pottery sherds found with the hoard are likely to represent the remains of a large storage vessel.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TG10NW
Civil Parish GREAT MELTON, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

August 2019. Metal-detecting. [1].
Discovered at a depth of c.0.65m [2]:
Late Bronze Age hoard consisting of 40 copper alloy objects, found with 12 pottery sherds likely to represent the remains of a large, coarse storage vessel.
The copper alloy objects comprise 3 complete socketed axeheads, 3 almost complete socketed axeheads, 7 incomplete socketed axeheads, 8 socketed axehead fragments, 1 incomplete double-edged knife, 1 unidentified object fragment (a curving strip similar to a bracelet), 1 Middle Bronze Age palstave fragment (found rammed into the mouth of one of the axeheads), 3 ingots and 13 irregular lumps or ingots.
The more diagnostic elements of the hoard are consistent with a date in the Ewart Park metalwork phase of the Late Bronze Age - c.950-800 BC. Several of the socketed axeheads have clear facets and may therefore be described as 'Meldreth-type' axeheads (named after examples from a hoard found at Meldreth, Cambridgeshire).
Information from PAS import.
See illustrations (S1)-(S9).
This hoard was submitted for consideration as Treasure (Ref: 2019 T1001).
P. Watkins (HES), 10 February 2024.

  • <S1> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2022. Drawing of Late Bronze Age socketed axes nos 1 and 2. Find Illustration. Film. 1:1.
  • <S2> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2022. Drawing of Late Bronze Age socketed axes nos 3 and 4. Find Illustration. Film. 1:1.
  • <S3> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2022. Drawing of Late Bronze Age socketed axes nos 5 and 6. Find Illustration. Film. 1:1.
  • <S4> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2022. Drawing of Late Bronze Age socketed axes nos 7 and 8. Find Illustration. Film. 1:1.
  • <S5> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2022. Drawing of Late Bronze Age socketed axe no 9, and fragments nos 10 to 14. Find Illustration. Film. 1:1.
  • <S6> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2022. Drawing of Late Bronze Age socketed axes, lower halves nos 15 and 16; Bracelet fragment no. 22, and Knife no. 23. Find Illustration. Film. 1:1.
  • <S7> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2022. Drawing of Late Bronze Age socketed axes, lower halves nos 17 to 20 and fragment no. 21. Find Illustration. Film. 1:1.
  • <S8> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2022. Drawing of Late Bronze Age ingots nos 24 to 27. Find Illustration. Film. 1:1.
  • <S9> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2022. Drawing of Late Bronze Age ingots or lumps no. 28, and pottery no. 29. Find Illustration. Film. 1:1.
  • PALSTAVE (Middle Bronze Age - 1600 BC to 1001 BC)
  • INGOT (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • KNIFE (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • POT (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • SOCKETED AXEHEAD (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • HOARD (Late Bronze Age - 950 BC to 801 BC)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Mar 6 2024 5:25AM

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