2013 -T494: Hoard of Prehistoric Metalwork from the Sutton Area, Herefordshire

HM Coroner: Mr. Mark Bricknell

District: Herefordshire

Assemblage date: Late Bronze Age - specifically Ewart Park Phase c. 950 - 750 BC

Findspot: Sutton Area, Herefordshire. The findspot lies a few metres north-west of a meandering watercourse / stream - which joins with another stream and forms the Little Lugg

Date of discovery: January 2013

Circumstances of discovery: Whilst searching with a metal detector

Description:

When found the sword hilt fragment was wedged within the mouth socket of the axehead - the conical object was recovered nearby at a different depth and is also reported herein.

1) Ribbed Socketed Axe:

A complete bronze ribbed socketed axe with prominent swollen collar and relatively straight sides which expand near the base of the socket. The sides flare to form a slightly expanded blade edge. The mouth of the axe is sub-rectangular in cross-section and the remnants of two trimmed casting jets are clearly visible. The edges of the mouth have also been trimmed. The loop is relatively small and wide being set in a low position beneath the collar. The loop is oval in cross section. On each face, three parallel longitudinal ribs descend from the lower edge of the swollen mouth moulding / collar. The ribs are complete and taper along their length terminating in sharp points. The casting flashes on the sides of the axe have been hammered and clear striations on the blade's edge bevel suggest some preparation for use. The axe is damaged in several areas - some of this damage is patinated and thus old, whilst other areas could be more recent. The lower blade of the axe has been deliberately bent causing a wide and deep horizontal fissure / crack which extends across the entire blade. This break is patinated and therefore old - most probably predating deposition. The mouth of the socket has also received a blow of some force which has caused longitudinal cracking and causing a distortion in the shape of the socket (crushing the mouth slightly). At this point the patina is lost through lamination making it difficult to date the damage - although again it is most likely to be pre-deposition. The blade of the axe, the loop and the external edge of the mouth of the axe are all abraded resulting in loss of metal - this is most likely to be relatively recent damage as a result of movement in the ploughsoil. Overall the axe is a mid green colour with a thick well developed surface patina.

Dimensions: length; 98.9mm, blade width; 45.7mm, thickness at socket; 35.2mm. Socket depth 72.3mm. Weight: 221.48 grams

2) Sword Hilt Fragment

A fragment from the hilt plate of Ewart Park type sword specifically a Western Step 2 variant. The hilt is irregular in plan with an expanded 'fishtail' hilt. The long edges of the hilt expand and taper (bulge) along the length. The lower edge of the hilt is broken with a sharp and irregular edge. The exterior / long edges have slight cast raised flanges. The centre of the hilt-plate is pierced by three cast rivet holes (diameter: 4.2mm) the upper two of which are complete whilst the third is partial due to the break. Two raised ribs descend the length of the hilt and the holes are positioned between them. The remains of a third central rib can be seen on one face - this terminates in line with the first rivet hole. The hilt is a mid grey green colour with an irregular partially polished surface patina. The broken edge has a similar patina to that seen on the body of the hilt.

Dimensions: Length; 61.0mm, Width at top; 43.8mm, Width at base 24.3mm, Maximum thickness; 5.9mm, weight: 36.33 grams

3) Conical object

Conical cooper alloy object of unknown function. XRF analysis undertaken by Pieta Greaves at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery showed the alloy of this object contained Copper, Lead and Nickel. This is a modern alloy and as such should not be considered as part of this group.

Dimensions: Length, 106.6mm, diameter at mouth 37.0mm, weight 98.92 grams.

Discussion and Dating:

When discovered and reported by the finder the sword hilt was wedged within the socket of the axe. This can be clearly seen within the attached photographs and also the enclosed X-Rays. The mouth of the socket was also filled with a clay rich soil which was removed in controlled conditions by the author of this report. Once the upper part of the soil plug was removed to a depth of 40mm a clear void was present; this extended to the base of the socket. The soil in the upper 25mm was hard and compacted whist below this it was loose and friable. No organic material was present within the soil and there was no evidence of stone, grit, pebbles or other inclusions.

Both the sword hilt and axe date from the Late Bronze Age, specifically from the Ewart Park metalworking tradition dated 950 - c.750 cal. BC - this corresponds with Needham's period 7, Burgess metal working stage XII (12) (after Needham 1996). The style of axe is common to Britain during this period (Schmidt and Burgess 1981) being similar to axes from the Northern Welsh Marches - specifically from the Breidden, Powys (Musson 1991). The sword hilt is also diagnostic being directly comparable to Colquhoun and Burgess' Western Step 2 variant (1988 p67 and 85) a good parallel can be seen in a sword from Figsbury Rings, Winterslow, Wilts (ibid p85 ref. 431 plate 63).

During the later Bronze Age a number of object types are often deposited together within specific locales in the landscape. These locales can sometimes be man-made structures such as hillforts or settlements, but are more commonly natural places often near water, such as spring heads, slow moving streams, or bogs / meres. It has also been noted (Bradley 1998) that many of these objects were put into the ground in a deliberately altered, mutilated or damaged state that placed them beyond use. The reasons for such mutilation are complex and not fully understood. It is thought that such deposits represent offerings or gifts to deities, however, they also represent a deliberate public destruction of wealth and assets (conspicuous consumption) which may also cement social hierarchies within communities.

There is no doubt that these two objects date from the same archaeological phase and were deliberately placed together around 3,000 years ago. It seems most likely that the sword hilt was broken and deliberately wedged into the mouth of the socket. The blade of the axe was also distorted and the mouth of the axe was then crushed and stoppered using clay rich soil.

Statement:

This assemblage / hoard (axe and sword hilt) is eligible as Treasure under the 2002 Treasure (Designation) Order of the Treasure Act 1996 (DCMS: 2002) due to it being a base metal prehistoric find containing two or more metal objects from a closed context.

The conical object is not eligible as it is formed from a modern alloy and thus does not qualify under the Act.

References:

Colquhoun I and Burgess CB 1988 The Swords of Britain Prahistorische Bronzefund Abteulung IV - Band 5, Munich.

Bradley, R: 1998: The Passage of Arms. (2nd Edition) Oxford: Oxbow

DCMS, 2002: Treasure Act 1996 Code of Practice. London, Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

Musson, C.R. 1991: The Breiddin Hillfort, a later prehistoric settlement in the Welsh Marches, CBA Research Report, 76. York: Council for British Archaeology.

Needham, S. 1996: Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age. Kopenhagen

Schmidt, P.K. and Burgess, C.B. 1981: The axes of Scotland and Northern England. Prahistorische Bronzefund Abteulung IX - Band 7, Munich.