File:Bronze Age hoard from Dawlish (FindID 833960-1008996).jpg

Circumstances: Found while searching with a metal detector on grassland. The majority of copper alloy fragments were found closely associated or together with the largest fragment (13) slightly further away (finders estimate 20m) and the gold bracelets together around two metres from the rest of the concentration. Two further fragments are thought to be lead-tin alloy and may relate to Post Medieval material found in the area rather than the hoards although tin beads are known from Devon hoards of the Bronze Age.

Danielle Wootten (former Devon FLO) arranged re-excavation of the findspot and was able to establish the detectorists excavation holes. She confirmed (pers. comm.) the entire hoard had been retrieved and that the site appears to have been a boggy area with no obvious 'pits' in which the hoard (or hoards) were deposited and no other features associated with the hoard(s). The full report is awaited.

Description: One or two hoards which may be associated and indeed have been deposited at the same time or separate times as part of an ongoing activity at the same site. One consists of copper alloy objects, the other of four gold bracelets.

The group of copper alloy objects consists of:

1. Fragment of sword blade. Broken at both ends, slightly wider at one end than the other, elliptical-section with bevelled edges. The edges of the blade have been hammer hardened. Breaks ancient. Surviving length 38.7mm. maximum surviving width 25.0mm. Weight 34.7g.

1. Lower part of a socketed axehead. Mouth and loop missing, rectangular-sectioned body with casting seams on either side, flaring for the curved and corroded cutting edge. Both sides are indented before the break suggesting it may be deliberately broken. Surviving length 38.7mm. Cutting edge 39.6mm. Weight 45.0g.

1. Part of the lower section of a socketed axehead with an old break which has removed one side and part of the blade. Mouth and loop missing, rectangular-sectioned body with casting seam on remaining side, flaring slightly for the curved and corroded cutting edge. The very end of the socket visible on the upper end. The curve of the cutting edge suggests only a small part of the side has been lost and the width is nearly complete at the blade. Surviving length 38.2mm. Cutting edge 27.6mm. Weight 45.5g.

1. Bun ingot fragment, 28.3mm by 23.2mm by 19.8mm, 49.6g.

1. Bun ingot fragment, 38.1mm by 30.1mm by 16.6mm, 95.8g.

1. Bun ingot fragment, 59.5mm by 50.9mm by 27.1mm, 276.9g.

1. Bun ingot fragment, 44.9mm by 40.1mm by 21.4mm, 153.7g.

1. Bun ingot fragment, 55.5mm by 41.7mm by 16.3mm, 154.9g.

1. Bun ingot fragment, 58.5mm by 43.9mm by 20.3mm, 242.6g.

1. Bun ingot fragment, 109mm by 72.5mm by 22.3mm, 660g. Complete diameter estimated at 140mm.

1. Bun ingot fragment, 80.8mm by 73.3mm by 28.5mm, 730g.

1. Bun ingot fragment, 112mm by 66.3mm by 39.6mm, 1110g.

1. Bun ingot fragment, 102mm by 94.6mm by 36.5mm, 1430g. Complete diameter estimated at 140-180mm.

1. Possible bun ingot fragment, 25.2mm by 14.1mm by 8.7mm, 8.82g.

The group of gold consists of:

1. Gold penannular bracelet with flat rectangular sectioned body and back coiled terminals. Flat, broadly parallel sided strip narrowing slightly to each terminal. The terminals are rolled outwards and back on themselves (at least 360 degrees). The strip has squared off sides. The strip has been straightened then one end bent over 180 degrees in an open curve. Small areas of creasing on the inner side at the centre and near one terminal. Length: 116mm folded, unfolded estimated at 166mm; width: 10.2mm at widest point, 7.1mm and 7.2mm at terminals strip thickness: 1.1mm excluding terminals; weight: 23.00g.

1. Gold penannular bracelet with flat rectangular sectioned body and back coiled terminals. Flat, broadly parallel sided strip narrowing slightly to each terminal. The terminals are rolled outwards and back on themselves one and a half times (480 degrees). The strip has slightly rounded sides. The strip has been straightened then one end bent over 180 degrees in an open curve. Length: 106mm folded, unfolded estimated at 160mm; width: 11.9mm at widest point, 10.6mm and 10.7mm at terminals; strip thickness: 1.1mm excluding terminals; weight: 19.63g.

1. Gold penannular bracelet with flat rectangular sectioned body and back coiled terminals. Flat, broadly parallel sided strip narrowing slightly to each terminal. The terminals are rolled outwards and back on themselves (at least c.270 degrees). The strip has slightly squared off sides. The strip has been straightened then one end bent over 180 degrees in an open curve. Length: 106mm folded, unfolded estimated at 155mm; width: 10.6mm at widest point, 9.7mm and 9.1mm at terminals; strip thickness: 1.2mm excluding terminals; weight: 25.37g.

1. Gold penannular bracelet with flat rectangular sectioned body and back coiled terminals. Flat, broadly parallel sided strip. The terminals are rolled outwards and back on themselves (at least c.270 degrees). The strip has slightly squared off sides. The strip has been straightened then one end bent over 180 degrees in an open curve. It has then further bent over again on itself at the point the terminal met the middle from the first fold. This fold is partially open and there is a small crack on the outer surface. Length: 65.0mm folded, unfolded estimated at 155mm; width: 14.6mm along its length; strip thickness: 1.0mm excluding terminals; weight: 23.81g.

Metal composition of the gold bracelets (object nos. 15-18): Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis of the metal of the four bracelets at the British Museum indicated a surface composition of approximately 79-83% gold, 13-17% silver and at least 3-5% copper. See appended report for details.

Discussion:

The copper alloy element of the hoard finds close parallels among 'scrap' hoards of the Late Bronze Age in Southern England.

The hoard contains a mixture of deliberately and possibly accidentally broken objects and ingots.

The four bracelets in this hoard are highly constant in their form and modification by bending. The one example bent further may be accidental, probably at the time of deposition. Very similar gold strip bracelets are known from across Southern England including two from the relatively close by Colaton Raleigh Hoard (Taylor 1999) found 1986 and dated to c. 1000-650 BC, Treasure case 2009 T393 from Calborne on the Isle of Wight dated 1000-750 AD (Basford and Roberts 2009), examples from Tisbury, Wiltshire and Morvah, Cornwall (both Taylor 1980 pl 52e and 52d) and two in a hoard from Bexley Heath, Kent (Taylor 1999 pl.10).

This hoard varies from the Colaton Raleigh and Bexley Heath hoards in having only one form of bracelet. It also varies in having the associated, spatially, and possibly chronologically, copper alloy hoard.

Date: Late Bronze Age

Conclusion: The prehistoric date and precious metal content of this find qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996 (Designation Order 2002).

Author: Laura Burnett, Finds Liaison Officer for Somerset

Date: 11/04/2017

Checked: Neil Wilkin, Curator, British Museum

References

Basford, F and Roberts, B.(2009) "IOW-8BBE91: A BRONZE AGE BRACELET" Web page available at: <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/262830">https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/262830</a> [Accessed: 11 Apr 2017 17:04:06]

Taylor, J. 1980, Bronze Age Goldwork in the British Isles. Cambridge: Cambridge University Pres

Taylor, J. 1999. 'The Colaton Raleigh gold bracelet hoard and its significance to the interpretation of the later Bronze Age' in Devon Archaeological Society Proceedings 57 pp.205-218.