Description

Summary: 1 bronze knife dagger (Wessex 1 Class 1B) with six rivets (2 left), 3 grooves and a narrow central ridge, found with primary cremation in a wooden box in Bowl Barrow Wilsford G43 (The Prophet Barrow), excavated by William Cunnington.

Research results

A Bronzer age copper alloy dagger excavated by William Cunnington in the early 19th century. The dagger was found in a wooden box with the primary cremation of bowl barrow Wilsford G43 'The Prophet Barrow', alongside a perforated whetstone. The dagger is of a type which dates to c. 1950-1700 BC, and the damage to the hilt-plate at the butt might suggest that the blade was separated from its handle prior to burial.

This object was examined as part of the research published in Ritual in Early Bronze Age Grave Goods; a six-year research project carried out by Professor John Hunter and Dr Anne Woodward and funded by the Leverhulme Trust. Aided by a large number of other specialists the pair undertood an exhuastive study examining over 1000 objects held in 13 museums across the country in order to provide an extensive overview of burial practices in the period and identify regional practices.