File:2011 T268a (FindID 439492).jpg

English: A Late Bronze Age hoard consisting of 21 objects including: 2 end winged axe fragments; 7 socketed axe fragments; 1 socketed fragment; 3 copper alloy fragments; 1 sheet metal fragment and 7 ingot fragments were located across a 40m spread.

Description

1. Copper alloy end winged axe fragment comprising the upper body and the butt. The upper part of the butt is missing. The wings are intact and slightly bent inwards on both sides. The patina is green.

Length: 86.21mm; Maximum Width: 35.18mm; Maximum Thickness: 32.41mm; Weight: 244.7g

2. Copper alloy end winged axe fragment comprising the butt. The upper part of the butt is broken off. The wings are intact apart from the bottom part of one wing. The loop is slightly damaged. The patina is green.

Length: 58.17mm; Maximum Width: 38.28mm; Maximum Thickness: 34.73mm; Weight: 160.5g

3. Copper alloy socketed axe fragment comprising the upper body and collar. One face of the body is missing, and the part that is broken is bent inwards. The section of the socket mouth that remains shows that it was square shaped. The loop is broken off. Casting seams are slightly visible on both sides. The body surface is damaged. The patina is green.

Length: 74.91mm; Maximum Width: 47.09mm; Maximum Thickness: 21.71mm; Weight: 158.3g

4. Copper alloy socketed axe fragment comprising a section of the collar with the loop. Casting seems slightly visible on the loop. The patina is light green.

Length: 39.10mm; Maximum Width: 19.60mm; Maximum Thickness: 13.42mm; Weight: 14.8g

5. Copper alloy socketed axe fragment, probably from socketed axe comprising a section of the upper body and the mouth. Single collared. The surface is damaged around the mouth. The patina is green.

Length: 50.73mm; Maximum Width: 24.29mm; Maximum Thickness: 6.30mm; Weight: 19.8g

6. Copper alloy socketed hammer fragment comprising only the bottom part. Casting seams are slightly visible on both sides. The edge is bevelled. Part of the surface is very irregular. The section although obstructed seems square. The patina is olive green.

Length: 44.54mm; Maximum Width: 29.69mm; Maximum Thickness: 21.98mm; Weight: 111.2g

7. Copper alloy socketed axe fragment comprising the blade. The cutting edge is very damaged and notched. The patina is green.

Length: 32.57mm; Maximum Width: 41.92mm; Maximum Thickness: 13.61mm; Weight: 49.0g

8. Copper alloy socketed axe fragment comprising the lower body and blade. The socket is square shaped .The cutting edge seems to be completely broken. The fragment surface and edges are very damaged and corroded. The patina is light green.

Length: 50.13mm; Maximum Width: 34.92mm; Maximum Thickness: 15.91mm; Weight: 94.0g

9. Copper alloy socketed axe fragment comprising the blade. The cutting edge is slightly notched and corroded. The blade surface although very obstructed presents marks possibly from grinding or done by other objects. The patina is light green.

Length: 25.22mm; Maximum Width: 47.09mm; Maximum Thickness: 13.93mm; Weight: 29.8g

10. Copper alloy socketed axe fragment. Comprising the lower body and the blade. The socket although obstructed seems rectangular shaped. The cutting edge is notched. The surface is very damaged and presents what could be marks of use or made with by other tools. The patina is green.

Length: 43.98mm; Maximum Width: 46.61mm; Maximum Thickness: 14.55mm; Weight: 83.2g

11. Copper alloy fragment. Irregular shaped with jagged edges. No decoration. Greyish green patina.

Length: 33.19mm; Maximum Width: 22.95mm; Maximum Thickness: 7.54mm; Weight: 17.2g

12. Copper alloy fragment. Irregular shape with jagged edges. No decoration. Circular perforation present on one surface. Greyish green patina.

Length: 30.27mm; Maximum Width: 18.12mm; Maximum Thickness: 6.10mm; Weight: 10.6g

13. Copper alloy fragment. The fragment seems to have been bent. Irregular shape. No decoration. Greyish green patina.

Length: 23.76mm; Maximum Width: 17.87mm; Maximum Thickness: 13.84mm; Weight: 5.1g

14. Copper alloy sheet metal fragment. No decoration. Slightly bent profile. Blunt edges and one of the as a semi-circular shape. Greyish green patina.

Length: 13.52mm; Maximum Width: 8.75mm; Maximum Thickness: 1.88mm; Weight: 0.4g

15. Copper alloy ingot fragment.

Length: 46.07mm; Maximum Width: 40.04mm; Maximum Thickness: 29.36mm; Weight: 137.4g

16. Copper alloy ingot fragment.

Length: 28.63mm; Maximum Width: 21.99mm; Maximum Thickness: 8.80mm; Weight: 8.6g

17. Copper alloy ingot fragment.

Length: 28.18mm; Maximum Width: 25.21mm; Maximum Thickness: 12.61mm; Weight: 31.0g

18. Copper alloy ingot fragment.

Length: 50.50mm; Maximum Width: 33.04mm; Maximum Thickness: 23.65mm; Weight: 145.1g

19. Copper alloy ingot fragment.

Length: 56.23mm; Maximum Width: 49.97mm; Maximum Thickness: 18.39mm; Weight: 162.9g

20. Copper alloy ingot fragment.

Length: 54.39mm; Maximum Width: 43.54mm; Maximum Thickness: 16.69mm; Weight: 148.5g

21. Copper alloy ingot fragment.

Length: 64.51mm; Maximum Width: 36.19mm; Maximum Thickness: 22.23mm; Weight: 203.8g

Discussion

The objects in the 'Staple' hoard can be dated to the Ewart Park metalwork phase (c. 1000-800 BC) of the Late Bronze Age on the basis of the socketed axe fragments and the end winged axe fragments. It represents one of the many Ewart Park metalwork phase hoards featuring end-winged axes, socketed axes and copper alloy ingot fragments to have been found in recent years in East Kent such as the Crundale hoard (TAR 2003, 22-25) to add to earlier finds in Kent (see Turner 2010, 69-70 for review of end winged axe hoards in Kent).

Conclusion

The objects qualify as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act (1996) (Designation Order 2002).

References

Treasure Annual Report 2003. Department for Culture, Media and Sport, London.

Turner L. 2010. A Re-interpretation of the Later Bronze Age Metalwork Hoards of Essex and Kent. BAR British Series 507.

Authors

Mafalda Raposo (Volunteer)

Ben Roberts (Bronze Age Curator) 1^st September 2011