A Late Bronze Age hoard found at Monkton Court Farm, Thanet

A LATE BRONZE AGE HOARD FOUND AT MONKTON COURT FARM, THANET D.R.J. PERKINS INTRODUCTION In September 1990 a Late Bronze Age bronze hoard was located in a field at Monkton Court Farm, Monkton, Thanet, the estimated position of the find-spot being at N.G.R. TR 27735 65540. The area is downland in arable use. Hereabout the geology is the Head Brickearth over Upper Chalk, the overburden varying in depth from 0.50 m. to 3.00 m. This discovery was no accident, but the climax of a protracted metal detector search by members of the Thanet and Wantsum Relic Association. In 1981, a T.W.R.A. member found a socketed axe and several bronze fragments near the spot. These were brought to the notice of the writer, and were described and illustrated in a watching brief report with the comment that they might represent part of a larger hoard.1 Since then, members of T.W.R.A. have often searched the field without result until September 1990 when a carefully planned and executed sweep by Mr Cristopher Wren and Mr Colin Tyman met with success. The writer was called to the site within minutes of their uncovering the main concentration of bronzes. Apart from the palstaves found at St. Mildred's Bay2 this appears to be the first such discovery where archaeologists have been present to explore and plan a hoard in situ. During nearby trenching for a water main in 1987, a number of pits and ditches were sectioned, these yielding Late Bronze Age material. 3 The nature and extent of 1 D.R.J. Perkins, 'The Thanet Gas Pipeline', Arch. Cant., ci (1984), 85, 87. 2 D.R.J. Perkins, 'The Selling to Thanet Trunk Water Main, Phase II', Arch. Cant., cvii (1989), 267-73. 3 D.R.J. Perkins, 'A Middle Bronze Age Hoard from St. Mildred's Bay', Arch. Cant., CV (1988), 243-9. 247 D.R.J. PERKINS the features suggest the presence of an extensive settlement site. At the time of writing and as a result of these discoveries, an excavation of the find-spot is being planned in consultation with English Heritage. This intended rescue activity has some urgency because of evident plough attrition. DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION An intensive search for the hoard was initiated after the discovery of a sword blade fragment (see Fig. 3.1, lb and 4) and a socketed axe (Fig. 3.2, 15). The find-spots of these objects, as also the 1981 finds, were all west of and in line with the plough marks shown as E in Fig. 2. They were distributed over a maximum distance of 67 m. from the hoard, probably as a result of their being lifted and carried by a potato harvesting machine. On detection, the first main hoard components were exposed by spade in an area of about 30 cm. square, their upper surfaces being about 5 cm. below the interface between subsoil and disturbed modern topsoil. A theodolite was set up 3 m. from the bronzes. From the theodolite plummet, a datum line was passed over the finds and points on this were used to locate a 1 m. square plotting frame. The theodolite was then employed both to level the plotting frame and to find the position of the datum by triangulation from nearby fixed points. Excavation of the hoard then proceeded, with objects being plotted as they were exposed. A powerful metal detector was used to pin-point the bronzes (in one case from 32 cm. above the object) thus defining the hoard area and saving much time. Small 'security probe type' detectors were also found useful in indicating the proximity and size of objects as they were approached vertically by trowelling. The relative positioning of the bronzes is illustrated by a plan and section in Fig. 1. In the plan points A and B on the broken line show intersects of the datum line with the plotting frame; see also A and B in Fig. 2. The broken line SS in the section marks the subsoil surface, and S is the modern land surface. It should be noted that the brickearth from the subsoil surface down, around and under the bronzes yielded nothing in the way of pot-sherds, burnt flint, bone, etc. The next step was to work out a square of 4 x 4 m. centred on the hoard; see Fig. 2 plan and section. Topsoil was then removed from this by hand, finds consisting of a few worn Romano-British potsherds, and others in post-Tudor fabrics. The surface so exposed was 248 I I ! ,' 22 A' - --- -L- --- · ""CJ r )> z I I I 8 BRONZE AGE HOARD, THANET 12 19 50 18 11 I 27 20 25 23 D I ,:. is - --+'-- 21 1 1 I I I I I I I I s . - --- -,- - -- - (J) I ---,---- SS m 􀀁 0 z I 1 I I I I I bc.􀀍.=-l:===---====-----5ocm Fig. 1. Plan and section of the artifacts as excavated. scored by subsoiler cuts (see E in Fig. 2), and exhibited many nodules of burnt flint. Pot-sherds in a local Late Bronze Age fabric were present, as was a large fragment of burnt greensand which appears to be part of a quern, see 'F'. Sections were then cut across the square (see Fig. 2, Section C-D) and the hoard find-spot was expanded and deepened. This demonstrated that the horizon containing occupation material extended down for only about 10 cm. Below this was featureless brickearth, of which a sample was subjected to microscopic examination. The paucity of molluscan remains in the sample suggested a 'Tundra' soil that had never formed a temperate climate land surface. During the widening of the central square, nodules of 'ash-slag' were found, their position being shown as G in the Fig. 2 plan and section. 249 D.R.J. PERKINS 0 • • p • -,'-:... . ··. • . 􀀑 -L .. " ' .􀀄 .. • • •r . c_ --- - - - •_ .Jt. --•- - ._J • . I : Q I I ,, I •• I I I I I I I I • I I -------- .,,.--. ,·tl'• A􀀂 ",A,.J ... • . 1•·• I • • I . : I I • ·􀀆 : I I I I • 􀀅 . , I bloc:,oc::li __ , 1m Hoard Datum s-- -- ----- .. -•􀀑-=4!.-. ..:.􀀒:-"􀀓􀀔--:-: r.- Gg􀀕p.:􀀖-.:;-􀀗-􀀘.::::..,; I IS-h. I I ••• . D . ______ --j I I _______ , 1 I Fig. 2. Plan and section of the box excavation centred on the hoard find-spot. THE HOARD CATALOGUE All items are illustrated by Figure 3, 1-4, and at the scale shown. The catalogue numbers refer to the same objects as in Figs. 1 and 2. Weapons (Fig. 3.1) 1. Five fragments of a sword that would have been about 50 cm. long when complete. Of the five, only the hilt terminal (la) is slightly contentious as a component. It does not connect to the hilt fragment and lacks the ridged edges of the latter. This though may be the result of hammering, of which it displays some evidence. Blade fragment 1 b 250 BRONZE AGE HOARD, THANET was found well away from the hoard, but its dimensions and patina match the other fragments perfectly. The weapon has narrow V-shaped shoulders and an almost straight ricassi that is typical of swords in the Ewart Park tradition. Of numerous parallels, some swords in the Blackmoor and Watford hoards are very similar.4 2 and 3. The heavy mid-ribs and incised lines identify these objects as blade fragments from Carp's Tongue swords. 4--6. These appear to be blade fragments from dirks or rapiers. Although such weapons would be somewhat anachronistic, being Late Middle Bronze Age types, they do, however, turn up in Late Bronze Age hoards. 5 Fragment 5 is unusual in appearing to taper towards both fractures, although this may be a result of corrosion. 7. This is a blade fragment from a sword of Ewart Park type; it was found packed in the socket of axe no. 21, see Fig. 3.2. In section it is rather more robust than no. 1. 8-10. Fragments of spearheads. No. 9 was found packed in the socket of axe no. 15, and the shaft fragment (no. 10), was an insert in the socketed axe shown as no. 16 in Fig. 3.2. 11. This object may be a complete scabbard-mount, a middlechape. It is similar in its section and in having crescentic mouths to some ch1e fragments in the Wilburton tradition hoard from Andover, and the Blackmoor hoard.7 Its dimensions (if accepted as rather flattened) would certainly accommodate a leather scabbard and blade. 12. A slightly curved (bent?), fragment of cast plate about 1.50 mm. thick. It is decorated with incised lines, some in ruled bands, and others taking the form of free-hand or compass-scribed circular decoration. Lacking an alternative explanation and from its associations it is listed here as possibly a fragment of a top-chape or scabbard mouth fitting. Socketed axes (Fig. 3.2) 13. Socketed axe, looped, with a heavy collar and rib-moulding. Pendant linear moulded wing decoration with two 􀁊ellets and horizontal 'stop'. It is similar to examples in the Leigh 1 and Foulsham 9 hoards. 4 C. Burgess, and B. Coombs, Bronze Age Hoards, BAR (1979) 67, 99 and 197. 5 Ibid., Danebury Hoard no. 3, 236 and Fig. 12,1, 3. 6 Ibid., Andover hoard, 93. 7 Ibid., Blackmoor hoard, 99. 8 Ibid., Leigh 1 hoard, 159. 9 Bronze Age Metalwork in the Norwich Castle Museum (1977), Foulsham hoard, 20, 29, 33. 251 - D.R.J. PERKINS [1J 2 I • I I 􀀄 '4 1 -<>- I 8 ' 0 I 10 Fig. 3, 1. Weapon fragments, all to scale shown. 252 I .. 􀀅' 3 E 0 0 ...... 􀀆 I 9 BRONZE AGE HOARD, THANET 14. Socketed axe, looped, squarish mouth with rectangular body and curved cutting edge. Heavy collar and double rib-moulding with short lengths of double rib-moulding across back and front. Double vertical grooves cast in both sides. 15. Socketed axe, looped, squarish mouth and rectangular body, curved cutting edge. Collar and rib-moulding. Socket packed with five fragments, nos. 9, see Fig. 3.1, and 39, 40, 47, 48, see Fig. 3.4. 16. Socketed axe, looped, squarish mouth, rectangular body, and curved ( damaged) cutting edge. A heavy collar and rib-moulding. The drawing shows the axe with the pegged spearhead shaft (no. 10) inserted. 17. Socketed axe, looped, round mouth, collar, octagonal faceted body and curved cutting edge. It is split and bulged on one side, perhaps broken in use by bad hafting. The socket held a number of bronze fragments (nos. 31, 34, 43, see Figs. 3.3 and 3.4), but they were loose and would not account for the damage. 18. Socketed axe, looped, round mouth, collar and rib-moulding (broken), decagonal faceted body and curved edge. The socket was filled with bronze fragments. 19. Socketed axe, looped, squarish mouth and rectangular body, collar and rib-moulding. A small axe, less than 7 cm. overall. 20. Socketed axe, no evidence of a loop (but axe broken), collar and seven faint incised horizontal lines in two groups of four and three separated by a clear zone. Decagonal body with fluted facets, crescentic edge. 21. Mouth and body fragment of socketed axe, looped, round mouth, collar and rib-moulding with pendant wing-ornament which is continued round the sides. The socket contained five fragments, nos. 7, see Fig. 3.1, and 32, 35, 36, 41, 51, see Figs. 3.3 and 3.4. Socketed axe fragments (Fig. 3.3) 22. Mouth and body fragment of socketed axe, looped, round mouth, deep smooth collar and octagonal faceted body. Similar to no. 17. Socket contained no. 33. 23. Mouth and body fragment of socketed axe, looped, round mouth, deep collar faceted to match heptagonal body. Socket contained fragments 42 and 44, see Fig. 3.4. 24. Blade fragment of socketed axe, rectangular body, almost straight edge. 25. Blade fragment of socketed axe, rectangular body, curved edge. 26. Blade fragment of socketed axe, rectangular body, crescentic edge. Socket contained fragment 45, see Fig. 3.4. 253 I 􀀉 13 I 16 19 I - D.R.J. PERKINS ' 􀀊14 I 􀀄 17 __ - .... 10cm 15 I 􀀅 18 I - l · .. 1 ' I 􀀋21 I CJ Fig. 3, 2 . Socketed axes, all to scale shown. 254 I 􀀂 22 29 DI " . I BRONZE AGE HOARD, THANET 􀀄 024 I. · I . !; □-w- 0 23 I 130 31 32 33