|
Date: |
|
Description: | 2009T729 is an addenda to 2008T4851. (Fig 2, B)Copper alloy cake ingot fragment. The flattened base of this fragment is matte red/brown while the top and broken sides are matte green/grey.Max thickness: 20mm; min. thickness; 13mm: weight: 135.3g2. (Fig. 2, C)Copper alloy cake ingot fragment. One surface of this fragment probably formed part of the ingot base and one, being at a 45 degree angle, probably formed part of the ingot top. The pitted metal is matte red/ brown with green patches of corrosion.Max. thickness: 21mm: min. thickness; 8mm; weight: 61.59 g.3. ( Fig. 2, D)Copper alloy cake ingot fragment with one pitted flat, worked surface. The metal is pitted matte red/ brown with green patches of corrosion.Max. thickness: 21mm: min. thickness; 14mm; weight: 323g.4. (Fig. 2, E)Copper alloy cake ingot fragment, including the curved edge of the ingot. The metal is deeply pitted and matte green patches with corrosion.Max thickness: 32mm; min. thickness; 21mm; weight: 316.9g.5. (Fig. 2, F)Copper alloy cake ingot fragment. The metal is pitted matte red/ brown with green patches of corrosion.Max thickness: 24mm; min. thickness 16mm; weight: 316.9g6. (Fig. 2, G)Copper alloy double mouthed socketed axe, Type South Eastern (Class A2 Pellet-decorated) The axe has a large piece missing from the mouth end on one side but on the other (complete) side the pellet decoration, 7mm in diameter, is clearly visible in the centre of the face 9mm from the lower mouth moulding (Needham 1990, 28, 31, fig 51). The semi-circular loop extends from the base of the lower mouth moulding, and is 18.28mm long, 6.72mm wide and 4.10mm thick. Casting seams are visible along both edges of the axe. The body is rectangular in plan with a sub-triangular cross-section. The shiny patina of the dark grey-green coloured metal is scratched in places, the blade edge has evidence of use wear and the casting seams are worn smooth.Length 103.12mm; width at blade: 42.40mm: width at socket: 38.32mm weight:175.93 g7. (Fig. 2, H)Copper alloy axe blade fragment. The metal is the same colour and condition as G (above) but has more patches of green corrosion.Width at blade: 45.53mm: weight: 88.1g8. (Fig. 2, I)Copper alloy socketed axe. Flared blade end fragment with some evidence of wear. Large patches of green corrosion overlay the matte dark brown metal.Width of blade: 53mm; max length: 43mm; weight: 115.90g9. (Fig. 2, J)Incomplete copper alloy socketed axe blade end fragment. The surface is matte green with corrosion and one blade edge is chipped.Width of blade: 46mm; max. length: 50mm; weight: 97.48g10. (Fig 2., K1) Incomplete copper alloy looped socketed axe, Type South Eastern (Class A1 Plain) with fragment inserted into the socket. The lower part of the body, including socket end and blade, is missing. Casting seams are visible along both edges of the axe. The body is rectangular in plan with a trapezoid cross-section (due to the missing blade end). The axe has a dark grey-green patina.Length 59.77mm; Weight 143.27 grams; max width 38.33mm11. (Fig 2, K1) Inside the socket was a fragment of copper alloy, presumed to be part of another socketed axe (Find K1i). It is slightly curved, with a more pronounced curve to one edge. The fragment has a dark grey-green patina.Length 44.92mm; Max Width 21.82mm; Thick 2.77mm; Weight 12.83 grams.12 . (Fig.2, K2)Copper alloy ingot fragment including the curved top surface of the ingot and a flat base. The matte brown metal is largely covered in bright green corrosion.Max. thickness: 30mm; weight: 404.8g13. (Fig.2, K3)Copper alloy ingot fragment. The matte brown metal has some areas of green corrosion.Max thickness: 13mm; min thickness: weight: 62.36 g14. (Fig.2, L)Copper alloy ingot fragment, or miscasting. It is roughly 'L' shaped, with an almost rectangular recess (possible socket).Length: 37mm; width: 22.69mm; max. thickness 23m; weight: 59.63 gAs these fourteen objects were found in the same place as the site of a Late Bronze Age hoard (2008 T485) and as they include contemporary and comparable material such as: the Ewart Park (c.1020-800 BC) South Eastern (Class A1 plain and A2 Pellet-decorated) socketed axe (Needham 1990, 28-31); copper alloy ingot fragments; and the placing of copper alloy fragments in the socket of socketed axes, it can be concluded that 2008 T485 and 2009 T729 represent parts of the same hoard. When the patinas of the objects are compared, despite differing post-depositional treatment (2009 T729 was cleaned and conserved while 2008 T485 was not), they are very similar.This hoard complements nearby contemporary finds in the Littlebury parish recorded in Essex HER such as the Late Bronze Age socketed axe from a field near Chestnut Avenue (TL 5019 3784) and a Late Bronze Age hoard near Howe Wood on the line of the M11. Late Neolithic and Bronze Age worked flint was recorded while field-walking 1979 - 82 under the supervision of Dr Tom Williams, and there is aerial photographic evidence for ring-ditches, the remains of ploughed-out barrows, on the slopes leading up onto the hills from the present-day village of Littlebury.In 2006, as part of their survey of Littlebury's history, the History Group of the Parish of Littlebury Millennium Society field-walked with the permission of the landowner, Braybrooke Estates, and with the assistance of Dr Tom Williams. The finds, which comprise mostly potsherds of various dates, include a small number of prehistoric (Bronze Age and Iron Age) sherds.ConclusionThe metalwork is a hoard dating to the Late Bronze Age and therefore potential Treasure under the Treasure Act 1997 (2002 Treasure (Designation) Order.BibliographyNeedham, S. 1990. The Petters Late Bronze Age metalwork: an analytical study of Thames Valley metalworking in its settlement context. London: British Museum Press.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
HOARD
Cast copper alloy metalworker's hoard…
-
HOARD
A Bronze Age hoard of…
-
HOARD
Treasure Ref: 2006 T67Circumstances of…
-
SWORD
42 Bronze fragments , including…
-
HOARD
TREASURE CASE : 2013 T11Addenda…
-
Hoard
Treasure case: 2006 T131
Bronze…
-
HOARD
Treasure case: 2006 T131Bronze Age…
-
HOARD
39 copper alloy fragments and…
-
HOARD
A Late Bronze Age metalworking…
-
HOARD
Five fragments of 'bun' ingots…
|