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Description: | Note: This catalogue was completed before conservation work undertaken. Soil and possible organic material was is retained the sockets of several objects and weights are therefore not final. The objects were not cleaned or treated by the finder.1. Socketed axe (1)Measurements: Length: 105mm; Width (blade): 43mm; Socket (external): 26mm (min.) 33mm (max.); Socket (internal): 26mm; Weight: 160g.Description: Complete cast copper alloy socketed looped axe, broken in two below the loop. The axe is relatively short and broad and almost bag-shaped. It has an oval cross section and several mouth mouldings. Its faces are undecorated. The blade is curved and slightly splayed and shows signs of wear and re-sharpening. The blade tips are missing. It has one side loop which is sitting quite low on the body and not directly under the mouth mouldings.Type: The axe appears to be of Type Fulford which dates from the middle part of the Late Bronze Age. Axes of Type Fulford are part of the Wallington/Wilburton metalwork assemblages and typically show Irish influence in their multiple collar mouldings (Schmidt and Burgess 1981, 177-178). They are normally found in Northern Britain and the closest parallel to the piece from Rampside was found at Low Fell in the Langdales, Cumbria (Schmidt and Burgess, 1981, no. 1003). The axe also bears comparison with Eogan's (2000) Class 8D form, with similar mouldings on axes of variant Westow (see ibid., nos. 1127, 1231, 1242 & 1251).2. Socketed axe (2)Measurements: Length of socket fragment: 53.5mm; Length of blade fragment: 40mm; Length of two fragments refitted: c.90mm; Width (blade): 49.5mm mm; Socket (internal): 28 (min.) 32.5mm (max.); Socket (external): - mm; Weight (socket fragment): 113g (NB. In addition to soil another object has been inserted into the socket); Weight (blade fragment): 67.5g; Diameter of socket of instrument pushed into socket: 20mm Description: Complete cast copper alloy socketed looped axe with long slender body. The axe has a tall collar which is slightly funnel-shaped and a small side loop. The body is elongated and thin, with straight sides that curve shapely into a much rounded blade. The edge and tips of the blade are missing; the surface is much worn. However, there is evidence for use and re-sharpening. The axe is faceted and there is a long rib on the obverse and reverse which gives the body an octagonal cross-section. The axe has not been cleaned but it appears to have multiple smaller mouth mouldings around the collar. A second object has been inserted into the socket of the axe and has a diameter similar to the socketed gouges.Type: The axe appears to be related to the Type Dowris, Variant Dungiven (Schmidt & Burgess 1988, 201-4) as it has two well defined mouldings or ribs running around the mouth. Several bag-shaped axes of Type Dowris, Variant Dungiven also bear mouth-mouldings. This axe is particularly similar to two examples of this type (ibid., nos. 1197 & 1199).3. Socketed implement (inside socket of axe no.1 (visible in socket fragment))Measurements: Length: n/a; Diameter: 20mm; Thickness: mm; Weight: n/aDescription: Probably a cast copper alloy socketed implement, possibly a gouge, which was inserted within the socket of socketed axe number 1 (above)4. Socketed gougeMeasurements: Length: 102.5mm; Width of cutting edge: 16mm; Diameter: 21mm;; Weight: 72.5gDescription: Complete cast copper alloy socketed gouge with part of the socket missing. It was decorated with multiple mouldings around the collar, but is otherwise plain.Type: Socketed, collared gouges are very common in Late Bronze Age hoards of both the Wallington/Wilburton and Ewart Park metalwork traditions.5. Sword fragment (handle)Measurements: Length: 99mm; Width (max.): 35.5mm; Thickness (max.): 7mm; Cross section of blade: 19mm by 6.5m; Weight: 52.7gDescription: Cast copper alloy sword handle, extremely worn. Pommel and hilt which were made from organic material, are missing; the copper alloy handle is broken below the shoulders and upper part of the blade. Upper part of handle and pommel broken off. Possible traces of a rivet hole at the bottom of the grip fragment. The edges are extremely worn but the diamond-shaped outline of the suggests that it is the upper part of an Ewart Park Type sword, dating from the Late Bronze Age, c. 1000-800BC (Colquhoun & Burgess 1988, 55-108).6. Sword fragment (blade) (1)Measurements: Length: 99mm; Width (max.): 35.5mm; Cross section of blade: 19mm by 6.5mm; Weight: 52.7gDescription: Fragment of cast copper alloy blade. Its width suggests that it probably came from a sword.7. Sword fragment (blade) (2)Measurements: Length: 64mm; Width: 20mm; Thickness: 5.5mm; Weight: 15.5gDescription: Fragment of cast copper alloy blade. It may have come from a sword, but due to its very narrow width suggests that it may have possibly been part of a rapier, dating from the Middle Bronze Age.8. Sword fragment (blade) (3)Measurements: Length: 26mm; Width: 16mm; Thickness: 4mm; Weight: 4.4gDescription: Fragment of cast copper alloy blade. Its width suggests that it probably came from a sword.9. Sword fragment (blade) (4)Measurements: Length: 28mm; Width: 23.5mm; Thickness: 4mm; Weight: 4.4gDescription: Fragment of cast copper alloy blade. Its width suggests that it probably came from a sword.10. Sword fragment (blade) (5)Measurements: Length: 53mm; Width: 15mm; Thickness: 4mm; Weight: 3.1gDescription: Fragment of cast copper alloy blade. It may have come from a sword, but due to its very narrow width suggests that it may have possibly been part of a rapier, dating from the Middle Bronze Age. There is a bend to one end of the fragment.11. Sword fragment (blade) (6)Measurements: Length: 17mm; Width: 15mm; Thickness: 4mm; Weight: 3.1gDescription: Fragment of cast copper alloy blade. It may have come from a sword, but the blade fragment is too small to be certain.12. Unidentified globular object (probably from same object as object No. 13)Measurements: Length (surviving): 35mm; Diameter: 26mm; Weight: 22.7gDescription: Hollow, bulbous object with several mouldings that comes to a stem with a rectangular profile.13. Section of rod (probably from same object as object No. 12) Description: Rectangular section rod with similar profile to the stem of the bulbous object (No. 12). Missing a section from the body (17 by 5.5mm).14. Possible casting jet or casting wasteMeasurements: Length: 25mm; Width: 20mm; Height: 22mm; Weight: 24.9gDescription: Casting residue, probably a small cast copper alloy casting jet.15. Possible casting jet or casting wasteMeasurements: Length: 15mm; Width: 18mm; Height: 16mm; Weight: 11.9gDescription: Casting residue, probably a small cast copper alloy casting jet.DiscussionHoards such as the one from the Rampside area, comprising fragments of sword, socketed gouges, socketed axes and casting jets/waste, are relatively common features of the Late Bronze Age in southern England. The insertion of objects into the sockets of socketed axes (as in the case of objects Nos. 2 & 3) is also a common practice in hoards of this period. Hoards of this size are, however, still relatively rare in Northern England and there are no comparable finds from Lancashire or Cumbria currently known. The unidentified object (No. 12 which appears to belong to the same object as No. 13) is unusual and requires additional research.
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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