Description

Summary: Three Iron Age copper alloy phalera, from the River Avon at Melksham, 650-550BC

Research results

A group of three copper alloy horse harness fittings called phalera, dated to the Earliest Iron Age. The phalera were discovered amongst the spoil generated during the diversion of the river Avon for the Melksham by-pass, and although presented to the museum later, were found in the same area of the river Avon as a group of similarly dated spearheads, and the two groups are probably related. Interestingly, one of the phalaerae has been ritually 'killed' by being stabbed repeatedly by a bladed weapon - perhaps one of the spears or the dirk blade found in the intital group?

The Melksham hoard has been photographed by Boughton (2019), who notes that it is one of only two Llyn Fawr hoards known in the country to not contain a socketed axehead.