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1884.119.352

Socketed bronze spearhead, leaf-shaped with one edge worn. [NC 11/08/2015]

1884.119.352

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Collection type
Object
Description
Socketed bronze spearhead, leaf-shaped with one edge worn. [NC 11/08/2015]
Geographical reference
Ireland, Republic of
Europe > Northern Europe > Ireland, Republic of
"Ireland": ie Ireland or Northern Ireland (UK)
Date / Period
Archaeological period: Late Bronze Age
Date collected
By 1874
Acquisition information
Donated: 1884
Materials and processes
Material Bronze Metal, Material Copper Alloy Metal, Process Polished, Process Cast, Process Socketed, Process Perforated
Dimensions
Length x Width x Height: max 171 x 46 x 22 mm, Weight 136 g
Object numbers
Accession number: 1884.119.352 PR Cat other PR nos: 2272
Research and responses

Pitt Rivers was in Ireland [serving in the Army] from 1862-66, this object may have been obtained during this period [Bowden, 1991: 60-4] [AP Leverhulme project on founding collection 1995-1998]

This object was looked at by Jim Lineen PhD (University College Cork) on 24 and 28 August 2015 [NC 28/08/2015]

Associated publications
Published in Allen, I.M., Britton, D., and Coghlan, H.H., 1970, 'Metallurgical Reports on British and Irish Bronze Age Implements in the Pitt Rivers Museum', Occasional Papers on Technology 10, Oxford University Press, Oxford. [CMP 09/08/2010] p 242 - Socketed spear head, blade convex in outline, edges have traces of bevel sharpened, midrib keeled in section towards tip, rounded below externally and internally. Two opposite [?] peg holes in socket, edges of blade slightly damaged, surfaces locally pitted with corrosion otherwise polished smooth (metallographic examination and analysis provided) [Drawing] - Sn 10.2%, Pb 0.057%, As 0.16%, Sb<0.1%, Ni 0.11%, Bi 0.11%, Fe 0.014%. This analysis confirms this object is a bronze alloy. Metallographic examination indicated forging and heat treatment of the cutting edge, as well as cold-forging. [GB 20/2/2006]

Search terms: Weapon, Spear-head

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