File:Middle Bronze Age, Spearhead (FindID 531185-475319).jpg

English: A near complete cast bronze (copper alloy) side looped and socketed spear (spearhead) of Middle Bronze Age date (1500 - 1150 BC). The spearhead is irregular in plan and profile with an incomplete and abraded sub-oval / leaf-shaped blade. The hollow socket is near complete with a small area of relatively modern damage (cracking) at the base. Two single cast 'string' side loops are present, one on either edge.

The tip of the spearhead is complete however the side blades have been much abraded in the soil, loosing most of their shape and also their cutting edges. However, the overall style of the blade can be best described as being leaf-shaped. The surviving width of the blade (at the base) is 29.1mm. The centre of the blade is divided by a tapering (tip to base) lozenge shaped midrib. This midrib is present at the tip and expands into the socket of the spear and is best described as being conical in shape. The mouth of the socket is near complete it has a diameter of 14.2mm and a thickness of 2.4mm. The base of the socket is cracked probably through abrasion. The central raised line of the mid-rib does not extend into the socket as a decorative feature. Positioned approximately 1/3 of the length of the socket parallel with the blade are two oval shaped 'string' loops. The loop has a maximum length of 15.7mm, width 2.9mm, and thickness of 1.5mm. The internal diameter of the loop measures 5.1mm x 1.9mm. The cross section is lentoid. The external edge does seem to have been deliberately flattened. These loops would have originally been used to help attach and secure the spearhead to the wooden shaft. They also may have been used as suspension loops for some form of tassel or decoration. There are no visible areas of cast or incised decoration on the spearhead. The casting seams on either edge of the spear have trimmed and hammered flat.

The spearhead is a mid-brown green colour with an even but much corroded patina. The patina has been abraded in several areas and there are several areas with an unstable surface. Some of these unstable surfaces have been caused by corrosion, which has caused the metal to laminate slightly. The socket has been gently probed and loose soil removed to prevent internal corrosion - a solid mass is present at the base of the socket which is likely to be compacted soil rather than the remains of a wooden haft. It is doubtful that this mass is very deep. Similar looped spearheads have been classified by Margaret Ehrenberg as Class IV dated to the Middle Bronze Age specifically the second phase of Acton Park (2), Taunton (Cemmaes) or Pennard metalworking traditions. These phases correspond with Needham's Period 5 (c. 1500 - 1150 BC). Two similar examples of the overall style of spearhead are illustrated in Savory: Guide Catalogue to the Bronze Age Collections ref: 230, Llanbeblig, Caern. and 337:2 Nantcwnlle, Cards. The later example was discovered in an excavation of a burial mound in association with a Pygmy Cup. The metal of this example has been analysed and found to be of Cemmaes metal dated to the period 1400-1200 BC.

The spearhead measures 171.8mm length, 29.1mm width across the blade, has a maximum diameter across base of socket 17.4mm. The socket is conical and has a depth of 84.4mm. The spearhead weighs 81.53 grams.