BRONZE AGE PALSTAVE

-1100

CORONER'S REPORTCircumstance of discoveryThe axehead was found as part of a dispersed hoard of six pieces which has been put through the Treasure process as case 2007 T704. One palstave and two socketed axes were found on the ploughed surface and two palstaves and one socketed axe were found at 2-5" below the surface. The south-eastern socketed axes broadly date the hoard to the Ewart Park metal phase (1000-800 BC) (Needham et al. 1997). However, the transitional palstaves may be slightly earlier in date (Schmidt and Burgess 1981) and thus may have been kept in circulation through time before being deposited. The deliberate placing of bronze objects in the Hampshire landscape is well documented (e.g. Lawson 1999). Label attached by site investigator.Description of objectA late Bronze Age cast copper-alloy looped palstave axehead of the transitional type. It is a narrow bodied palstave with flared blade. It has four mid-ribs, a side loop, a pronounced stop-ridge, deep flanges and a straight butt. It has light green corrosion and some post-depositional scratching and impact damage.DiscussionThe Southeastern socketed axes can be further classified as type A1 Plain (Needham 1990, 28 fig. 2) and type B4 ribbed and double mouthed (Needham 1990, 36 fig 6) and broadly dates the hoard to the Ewart Park metal phase (1000-800 BC) (Needham et al. 1997). However, the transitional palstaves may be slightly earlier in date (Schmidt and Burgess 1981) and thus may have been kept in circulation through time before being deposited. The deliberate placing of bronze objects in the Hampshire landscape is well documented (e.g. Lawson 1999).Conclusion Though contextual details are sparse, it is probable that these objects formed a single original deposit or hoard dispersed through the actions of the plough seems very likely. This material is eligible as Treasure under the new Treasure Order (2002) being a base-metal prehistoric find containing two or more metal objects.