File:Bronze Age axe and gold lock rings (FindID 458499).jpg

English: A late Bronze Age hoard consisting of six objects including:

1 copper alloy socketed axe and 5 gold lock-rings (which were located within the hollow of the axe, three of the lock-rings were excavated from the body of the axe by the British Museum conservation department), were found while metal detecting with landowners permission at a depth of 8-9 inches. It is to be known as the "Near North Cove" hoard. Description 1. Copper alloy socketed axe, Class B- Southern English ribbed type. The socket mouth is rounded and the axe has a double mouth moulding, the higher of which is more prominent. The axe has 5 longitudinal ribs on each face, starting from the second mouth moulding and extending approximately a third of the way down the axe finishing just below the side loop. The body runs slightly flared but parallel until the cutting tip where it then expands out. Patina is green, porous and corroded especially at the cutting edge. On one face there is a small area which is less corroded, darker green and smooth although scratched. The axe also has an internal haft rib. Found inside the axe were two gold lock-rings one of which is lodged in the axe, and further inside, are more unidentifiable lodged gold object(s?). Weight: 331.7 g (including one gold lock-ring and other gold object(s) still lodged in axe) Length: 106.76

2. Gold penannular lock-ring with triangular side-plate cross section, with round sectioned wire edging. The face plates are plain and have no visible decoration. The side plates are damaged, and the gold has peeled off slightly from the central tube at one side revealing a section of the internal structure. The surface is bright and shiny with small patches of green. The lock-ring also has the appearance of being crumpled and creased in some sections, especially round the central tube (1 in box). Weight: 2.9 g (including internal soil), Diameter: 27.44mm, Internal Diameter: 14.38mm

3. Gold lock-ring embedded in axe (which when excavated in conservation) with a triangular side-plate cross section, with round sectioned wire edging. The face plates are plain and have no visible decoration. The side plates are damaged, and the gold has peeled off slightly from the central tube at both side revealing a section of the internal structure. The surface is bright and shiny with small patches of green (2 in box). Weight: 3.4 g (including internal soil), Diameter: 28.1mm, Internal Diameter: 15.7mm, Thickness 9mm

4. Gold lock-ring embedded in axe (which when excavated in conservation) was a half lock ring (possibly linked to no. 6). It has a triangular side-plate cross section, with round sectioned wire edging. The face plates are plain and have no visible decoration. The side plates are damaged, and the gold has peeled off slightly from the central tube at both sides revealing a section of the internal structure. The surface is bright and shiny with small patches of green (3 in box). Weight: 1.5 g (including internal soil), Length: 27.5mm, Thickness 8.8mm

5. Gold lock-ring embedded in axe (which when excavated in conservation) with a triangular side-plate cross section, with round sectioned wire edging. It is virtually in two halves and is attached by a small remaining section of the face-plates The face plates are plain and have no visible decoration. The side plates are damaged, and the gold has peeled off slightly from the central tube at both sides and in the centre revealing a section of the internal structure. The surface is bright and shiny with small patches of green (4 in box). Weight: 2.8 g (including internal soil), Diameter: 27.8mm, Internal Diameter: 12.6mm (though broken), Thickness 8.2 mm

6. Gold lock-ring embedded in axe (which when excavated in conservation) was a half lock ring (possibly linked to no. 4). It has a triangular side-plate cross section, with round sectioned wire edging. The face plates are plain and have no visible decoration. The side plates are damaged, and the gold has peeled off slightly from the central tube at both sides revealing a section of the internal structure. The surface is bright and shiny with small patches of green (5 in box). Weight: 0.9 g (including internal soil), Length: 25.2mm, Thickness 8.0 mm

Discussion

The Southern English ribbed socketed axe type dates to the Ewart Park metalwork phase of the Late Bronze Age (1000-800 BC) and are distributed throughout southern, eastern and central Britain (Needham 1990, 32-38). They are contemporary with lock-rings whose distribution in Britain is fairly widespread falling geographically into either the North British Group (of which there are 20 examples) and South British group (8 examples). The presence of the side-plate and an undecorated face-plate are typically features of lock-rings from the North British Group, however geographically the 'Near North Cove' gold lock-rings fall into the South British Group (Eogan 1969). The lock-ring from this hoard can be paralleled to the 'Feltwell Fen' hoard, where gold foil from a lock ring was found together with a socketed axe head in Norfolk (Eogan 1969). Gold objects deposited in a copper alloy socketed axe's socket have been recorded in other hoards, and the 'Near North Cove' hoard is comparable to the to the Late Bronze Age hoard from 'Trevalyn Farm', where four gold bracelet fragments were discovered within the socket of a faceted axe of Type Meldreth, belonging to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age (Gwilt 2005).

Conclusion

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

References

Eogan, G. 1969.Lock-Rings' of the Late Bronze Age.Royal Irish Academy Proceedings Volume 67 Gwilt, A, et al 2005.

A Late Bronze Age Hoard from Trevalyn Farm, Rossett, Wrexham.Studia Celtica, XXXIX (2005), 27-61 Needham, S. 1990.

The Petters Late of Bronze Age Metalwork: An Analytical Study of Thames Valley Metalworking in Its Settlement Context. London: British Museum.

Ben Roberts Curator of European Bronze Age

Katherine McBride (volunteer) 29th June 2012