File:Bronze Age palstaves back (FindID 433792).jpg

English: A Middle Bronze Age hoard consisting of two copper alloy palstaves. The hoard was found 50 feet in a re-deposited easement from a pipeline between 6-12 inches under the ground.

Description:

1. Copper Alloy Palstave (Rowlands Type: Class 3, Group 2). The rounded damaged butt leads down to low convex flanges, a slightly U-shaped stop and triangular shaped blade.The cutting edge is very damaged with part of it missing. The surface is extremely corroded which obscures detail and the patina is an olive green. Casting seams are present on both sides. There is a small depression on the neck below the stop ridge which may or may not have been decorative.

Length: 156mm, Maximum Width: 55.97mm, Maximum Thickness: 25.58mm, Weight: 371.6g

2. Copper Alloy Palstave (Rowlands Type: Class 2 and undefined group, Early Side Flanged). The rounded damaged butt leads down to low convex flanges, a straight stop and onto a flared blade. The cutting edge is very damaged; however the blade surface seems to have evidence of use. The surface is in general very corroded which obscures the details on the object. There is an olive green patina. Casting seams are still slightly visible on both sides.

Length: 171mm, Maximum Width: 74.40mm, Maximum Thickness: 32.27mm, Weight: 361.5g

Discussion

The objects in the 'Kingsnorth hoard' can be dated typologically to the Middle Bronze Age (c. 1500-1100 BC).The Class 3 group 2 palstave can be placed in the Taunton metalwork phase (c. 1400-1250BC) (cf. Rowlands 1976, 32-33; O'Connor 1980, 52-53). The Class 2 palstave is associated with the Acton Park metalwork phase (c.1500-1400 BC) (cf. Rowlands 1976, 31; O'Connor 1980, 53). The distribution of the objects the Class 3 group 2 palstaves is across the south-east of England with concentrations on the Hampshire, the Sussex coast and in east Kent (O'Connor 1980, 53). Local parallels are known from hoards at Blackrock, Sussex; Dewlish, Dorset; Wantage, Berks and Hayling, Hantes (Rowlands 1976, 33). Class 2 early sided flanged palstaves (Rowlands 1976, 31-32) are typical of finds from the Thames Valley and Southern England (O'Connor 1980, 52).

Conclusion

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

References

O'Connor, B. 1980. Cross-Channel relations in the later Bronze Age. BAR International Series 91.

Rowlands, M. J 1976. The Production and Distribution of Metalwork in the Middle Bronze Age in Southern Britain. British Archaeological Reports 31 (ii)

Authors

Mafalda Raposo (Volunteer)

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