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Description: | A Bronze Age hoard of one cast copper alloy socketed axe and fifteen copper alloy ingots/bronze cake fragments.CatalogueNote: Catalogue completed before conservation work undertaken.The objects were not cleaned or treated by the finders.A. Socketed axe (1)Measurements: Length: 72mm; Width (blade): 35mm; Socket (inner-outer): 25-33mm; Socket (back-front, inner-outer): 23-29mm; Weight: 103.7g.Description: Cast copper alloy socketed looped axe of plain South Eastern Type. Complete. The axe has a rectangular double-mouth moulding which is aligned with the blade. The body of the axe is undecorated. The lower part of the blade looks worn and sharpened but re-sharpening marks are obliterated. There are two short hafting ribs on inside of the socket.1. Fragment of bronze cake/bronze ingot fragment (1)Measurements: Length: 110mm; Width: 52mm; Thickness: 33mm; Weight: 628.8gDescription: Fragment of bronze cake/ingot.2. Fragment of bronze cake/bronze ingot fragment (2)Measurements: Length: 73mm; Width: 71mm; Thickness: 33mm; Weight: 810.7g Description: Fragment of bronze cake/ingot.3. Fragment of bronze cake/bronze ingot fragment (3)Measurements: Length: 76mm; Width: 55mm; Thickness: 25mm; Weight: 394.2gDescription: Fragment of bronze cake/ingot.4. Fragment of bronze cake/bronze ingot fragment (4)Measurements: Length: 80mm; Width: 51mm; Thickness: 23mm; Weight: 353.7gDescription: Fragment of bronze cake/ingot.5. Fragment of bronze cake/bronze ingot fragment (5)Measurements: Length: 67mm; Width: 52mm; Thickness: 21mm; Weight: 373.9gDescription: Fragment of bronze cake/ingot.6. Fragment of bronze cake/bronze ingot fragment (6)Measurements: Length: 63mm; Width: 70mm; Thickness: 24mm; Weight: 337.3gDescription: Fragment of bronze cake/ingot.7. Fragment of bronze cake/bronze ingot fragment (7)Measurements: Length: 73mm; Width: 45mm; Thickness: 23mm; Weight: 287.8gDescription: Fragment of bronze cake/ingot.8. Fragment of bronze cake/bronze ingot fragment (8)Measurements: Length: 69mm; Width: 48mm; Thickness: 24mm; Weight: 251.7gDescription: Fragment of bronze cake/ingot.9. Fragment of bronze cake/bronze ingot fragment (9)Measurements: Length: 55mm; Width: 58mm; Thickness: 20mm; Weight: 236.8gDescription: Fragment of bronze cake/ingot.10. Fragment of bronze cake/bronze ingot fragment (10)Measurements: Length: 62mm; Width: 43mm; Thickness: 17mm; Weight: 158gDescription: Fragment of bronze cake/ingot.11. Fragment of bronze cake/bronze ingot fragment (11)Measurements: Length: 47mm; Width: 39mm; Thickness: 23mm; Weight: 109.9gDescription: Fragment of bronze cake/ingot.12. Fragment of bronze cake/bronze ingot fragment (12)Measurements: Length: 62mm; Width: 39mm; Thickness: 25.5mm; Weight: 237.4gDescription: Fragment of bronze cake/ingot.13. Fragment of bronze cake/bronze ingot fragment (13)Measurements: Length: 40mm; Width: 30mm; Thickness: 27mm; Weight: 138.6gDescription: Fragment of bronze cake/ingot.14. Fragment of bronze cake/bronze ingot fragment (14)Measurements: Length: 60mm; Width: 35mm; Thickness: 22mm; Weight: 138.8gDescription: Fragment of bronze cake/ingot.15. Fragment of bronze cake/bronze ingot fragment (15)Measurements: Length: 26mm; Width: 27mm; Thickness: 10mm; Weight: 27.6gDescription: Fragment of bronze cake/ingot.DiscussionThe Faversham hoard consists of one socketed looped cast copper-alloy axe and fifteen bronze cake- or ingot fragments. The date of the hoard is derived of the socketed axe which is of plain South Eastern Type and part of the Ewart Park metalwork assemblage dating from c. 900BC.The fifteen bronze ingot fragments would be difficult to date on their own but they appear to be fragments of 'cake'- or 'bun'-shaped ingots which are a type generally considered to a Late Bronze Age type because they are most commonly found in Late Bronze Age hoards in Kent and East Anglia deposited together with Ewart Park and Carp's Tongue metalwork. They usually accompany larger assemblages of spearheads, sword fragments, socketed axes of plain and ribbed South Eastern and faceted Meldreth Types, smaller wood-working tools such as hammers, chisels and gouges and, to much lesser extent, ornaments such as rings, buttons and bracelets. Most if not all of the deposited artefacts had usually been prepared for use and/or used and it is possible that they were discarded after they had outlived their usefulness. Most artefacts are damaged or have been intentionally damaged and rendered useless. It is likely that these artefacts were collected and kept in a safe place for recycling. This would explain the presence of fragments of bronze cake/ingot fragments, too.ConclusionThus, in light of the dating of the socketed axe and its direct association with the fifteen bronze cake/ingot fragments, the Faversham hoard qualifies as Treasure under the Amendment to the Treasure Act of 1996 (Category 2) which stipulates that any group of two or more metallic objects of any composition of any prehistoric date that come from the same find and found after 1 January 2003, qualify as Treasure under the Treasure Act.ReferencesSchmidt, P. and Burgess, C. 1981. The Axes of Scotland and Northern England. Munich: Beck, Prähistorische Bronzefunde IX/7.Author:Dot Boughton MPhil MStFLO (Lancashire and Cumbria)Department of Portable Antiquities and TreasureThe British MuseumChecked:Neil WilkinCurator, Bronze Age CollectionThe British Museum
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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