Monument record BRD 070 - Little Ouse River

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Summary

1979: Bronze ?palstave, bright bronze coloured, found metal detecting in river dredgings S of Little Ouse.

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 755 869 (100m by 100m)
Map sheet TL78NE
Civil Parish BRANDON, FOREST HEATH, SUFFOLK
County NORFOLK

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

1979: Complete bronze socketed axe, bright bronze coloured, found metal detecting (see 'Not to be published on web' tab for finder/s and/or findspot/s) in river dredgings S of Little Ouse (see 'Not to be published on web' tab for finder/s and/or findspot/s). Thought to be modern so thrown back in river(see 'Not to be published on web' tab for finder/s and/or findspot/s).
Bronze palstave & small socketed chisel found close to each other, `about 8- 10 years ago (circa 1979-1981) in dredgings from river Little Ouse' by ? (see 'Not to be published on web' tab for finder/s and/or findspot/s). The river had not (in 2001) been dredged again since 1979. Apparently not found with a metal detector. The patinated palstave, weighing 210 gms is 11.9 cms long by 4.4 cms maximum blade width by 2.3 cms thick at stops, is remarkably similar to those from the Stibbard hoard, Norfolk, and like these, despite having had its casting flashes removed, appears to be unfinished/unsharpened, although the loop has been broken off in antiquity and on one face the flanges do appear to have been damaged.
The small, plain socketed chisel, weighing 30 gms is 7.1 cms by 2.1 cms (at blade) by 1.7 cms thick and could also be MBA (cf Rowlands 1976, 41-5, plates 34:1101, 1126 from Soham & Rymer Point, Barnham (BNH Misc) & 12:156. 2)(S2).
Purchased from finder (see 'Not to be published on web' tab for finder/s and/or findspot/s) in 1989 (S1). Although said to have been found on Norfolk bank, the river here forms Suffolk/Norfolk County boundary and dredgings usually deposited on south (Suffolk) bank!. Note further BA metalwork from river - BRD 063, 033, 050, 044.
November 1990: Same socketed chisel now in possession of (see 'Not to be published on web' tab for finder/s and/or findspot/s) having been swopped (for some ?coins) off (see 'Not to be published on web' tab for finder/s and/or findspot/s). Possible hoard?
1979: A bronze side looped spearhead was also found (see 'Not to be published on web' tab for finder/s and/or findspot/s) (very rough sketch in file on surface by eye (S3).
The area is one where two drainage channels (one to N and one to S of river) adjoin the river. The possibility for re-deposition of material is therefore very high.

Sources/Archives (4)

  • <S1> (No record type): Palmer D, March 1989, map.
  • <M1> Unpublished document: Suffolk Archaeological Service. Parish Files. Parish file: map, drawings, (S3).
  • <S2> Bibliographic reference: Rowlands M J. 1976. The Organisation of Middle Bronze Age Metalworking.
  • <S3> Verbal communication: Personal communication. Mallett E, sketches, May 2001 & December 2003.

Finds (5)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

May 17 2010 1:16PM

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