File:Bronze Age gold fused rods (FindID 477589).jpg

Circumstances of Discovery

On 10^th December 2011, while metal detecting on cultivated land in Ancaster, three gold rods fused together were found, the probable remains of a broken and melted down twisted wire torc of Middle Bronze Age date (c.1300-1150BC). One is made from twisted gold, one is a round, smooth rod with a pitted surface, the last is also round but the feint hint of of a twisted surface survives on one side. The hoard was found in the parish of Ancaster, Lincolnshire.

Description

1. Three gold rods fused together. All three rods may once have been part of the same long tapering twisted wire rod golden in colour with slightly pitted surfaces which have a mid reddish brown patina. Total Weight: 13.5g, Max. Length: 41.24mm, Max. Width: 8.65mm,

a) Rod of twisted gold. This solid rod is formed from three wires twisted and fused together. It is tapered towards one end where the deep groove of the twists has worn down to an almost flat surface. Max. Length: 41.24mm, Max. Width of rod: 4.84mm

b) Curved gold rod with faint evidence of twisting. This narrower roughly circular sectioned rod is bent into a shallow curve and fused along one side to the larger twisted rod. One end curves over rod c) to which this is also fused. The opposite end, closet to rod a) bears faint evidence on the surface of the ridges of twisted wire. It is proposed this item originally had a similar twisted wire structure to rod a) prior to being subjected to the heat process that fused the three rods. Max. Length: 28.33mm, Max. Width of rod: 2.88mm

c) Smooth round gold rod. Almost circular in section this rod tapes towards the same end as the tapered end of rod a). It has a slight kink midway along its length and is fused along one side to both rod a) and rod b). At the tapered end is a possible hint of a once ribbed surface like the twisted effect of a) and b) but this is not clear. Max. Length: 29.29mm, Max. Width of rod: 3.28mm

Discussion

The dimensions of this gold fragments would be compatible with sections from a bracelet or perhaps a torc. Bracelets and torcs made from twisted gold have been found in Britain for example, the twisted gold wire bracelet and a flange-twisted gold wire torc were found in a hoard of gold ornaments and copper alloy tools from Burton, Wrexham, Wales (PAS-5B1745) and a flange-twisted gold torc from Shorewell on the Isle of Wight (IOW-C0C054). The bracelet from Burton is formed from 6 strands of twisted gold wires each only 0.8mm in diameter and joined together at either end of the bracelet by a flat rectangular terminal. The torc from Burton, on the other hand is 4.1mm in diameter. The diameter of each of the fused wires therefore corresponds better with the torc dimensions than the bracelet. Unfortunately the melted condition of the fused gold rods gives the impression of a flatter twisted wire than the flange types noted above. It is possible before heating the twisted wires were originally flatter and less rounded. The analysis of the flange-twisted torc of Shorewell torc suggested the style corresponds to the Penard phase (c. 1300-1150BC) (Roberts 2007, Murgia et al 2011). These fused rods may therefore be evidence for recycling of gold torcs in the Middle Bronze Age. In addition, the diameter and appearance is comparable to the gold large flange-twisted torc found at the Isle of Axholme, North Lincolnshire (BM 1880, 0820.36, Murgia et al 2011, 2.3.5).

Conclusion

The objects qualify as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act (1996) (Designation Order 2002).

References

Murgia, A., Melkonian, M. & Roberts, B.W. forthcoming b. European Bronze Age Gold in the British Museum. London: Online Research Catalogue. Roberts, B.W. 2007.

Adorning the Living but Not the Dead: Understanding Ornaments in Britain c. 1400-1100 cal BC. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 73, p.135-167.

Sophia Adams (volunteer)

Ben Roberts (European Bronze Age curator, British Museum)