Description

Summary: 1 heavy narrow bronze dagger with three rivets and three grooves either side of a rounded central ridge dotted with 'Pointille' decoration, found with a primary cremation in Bowl Barrow Wilsford G27, excavated by William Cunnington

Research results

A Bronze Age copper alloy dagger excavated by William Cunnington with the primary cremation of barrow Wilsford G27. The barrow itself was already greatly damaged by agriculture when it was excavated in the early 19th century, but the form of the dagger, with its pointille decoration, suggests a date within period 4 of the Early Bronze Age (c. 1750-1500 BC).

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.