Bronze Age 3300 - 1200 BCE
Geologic to Prehistoric
A collection of Bronze Age damaged or worn bronze objects including axe heads, sword framents and other bronze pieces found together buried in a hoard.
This Bronze Age hoard of 56 socketed axe heads, fragments of sword, spearheads and other bronze metalwork were discovered by a metal detectorist in 2004 within the north-eastern confines of a Neolithic causewayed enclosure in an undisclosed location in the county.
During the Bronze Age flint was not immediately replaced by metal working although bronze allowed for a superior range of tools and weapons. It is likely that collections (hoards) of valuable or important metal objects were therefore buried in the ground or deposited in a safe place. Such hoards can vary in size and content, from a handful of coins to a cache of tools.
This hoard is interesting as many of the tools show signs of heavy wear and damage, so they could be a collection of scrap metal. It is likely that they were collected with other surplus bronze to form a metal resource for recycling. The diverse collection of tools, weapons, metalworking debris and ingots of raw material suggest that this is a metalworker’s hoard, intended to be recovered at a later time.
Number 15 of the objects selected for the A History of Northamptonshire in 100 Objects Exhibition 2025
This is a rare type of medieval ceramic roof tile, replaced in the 13th century by standard rectangular ceramic or nib tiles used until the 20th century. The rarity of these roof tiles and their association with buildings of high status in Northampton, both religious and secular, is of historical and archaeological significance.
A cavalry officer’s heavy sword carried in the Battle of Waterloo, 1815. It is 102cm long, with a matching scabbard. It is made from metal with decoration on the blade called blue and gilt, which has now faded.
© NMAG
© Creative Commons Non Commercial Licence
© Creative Commons Non Commercial License
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NMAG
©
Andy Chapman
©
NMAG
©
Delapre Abbey