File:Late Bronze Age Socketed Axehead. Treasure case no. 2014 T474 (IOW2014-2-311-8) (FindID 625548).jpg

This hoard is formed of socketed axes of near complete and fragmentary nature. There are 11 individual items, with a further two fragments located within two of the axes.

1. Socketed axe of probable Sompting type, Figheldean Down or Cardiff II variant - Other ref: IOW2014-2-311-1)

A near complete copper-alloy socketed axe of Sompting type. The axe is sub-circular in plan at the socket with a pronounced rim at the mouth; this is large and 'D' shaped in section. Below the rim springs a side loop; this is complete with a 'D' shaped aperture. Casting seams are retained on both side faces and across the side loop, though these appear partially hammered/cleaned down. The body of the axe is narrow and straight, and is unusually long for this type; it flares only slightly at the blade. On one face of the axe are the remains of three (or five?) vertical ribs; corrosion masks this detail on the opposing face, with possible pellet detail. Across the lower portion of the axe on one face is a moderate horizontal split, indicative of an attempt to separate the blade from the body prior to deposition; in profile the force of this effort has pushed the lowest portion of the blade backwards and out of alignment. The blade itself is incomplete, with losses to the cutting edge and side faces resulting from extensive corrosion, but shows some evidence of use or sharpening/honing. The metal at this point is a dark grey colour, with light green corrosion product on the damaged face; the face retaining decoration has more pronounced green bulbous corrosion product. The remainder of the axe is in moderate to poor condition with a pitted surface overall and light green corrosion product.

Dimensions: Length: 143mm; Socket dimensions: 44.7mm by 41.mm, Thickness of socket rim: c.5.4mm-6.6mm; Side loop dimensions: length 25.2mm, width 12.8mm, internal aperture 12.8mm by 6.3mm; Blade width: 48.6mm; Weight: 426.5g.

2. Socketed axe of probable Sompting type, Tower Hill variant - Other ref: IOW2014-2-311-2)

A copper-alloy socketed axe of Sompting type, near complete with only slight losses to the blade. The socket portion is rectangular in plan, around which a pronounced circular in plan rim extends; this is unevenly cast and appears broadly 'D' shaped to biconical in section. Below this are the traces of a horizontal rim from which the incomplete and poorly cast side loop springs; a moderate casting flaw is visible below this rim on the opposite side. The form of the loop with its tapered end suggests that it is complete in its miscast form, and that the loop would not have been functional. From the side loop the body of the axe tapers to a wedge shaped blade, which has been sharpened (Brendan O'Connor pers comm.). The blade itself is incomplete, with a large removal to one edge. The axe retains casting seams on either side which appear to have been hammered/cleaned down; this is most noticeable at the blade portion on the loop side. The axe is in good condition overall, with some light green corrosion product over the silver-grey metal; the silver colour of this axe has been noted as unusual for this type. Despite the relatively good preservation of the axe, the decoration is relatively faint and this may be the result of the mould having been redressed prior to casting (Neil Burridge pers comm).

Dimensions: Length 119.5mm; Socket dimensions: 47.7mm by 43mm (socket aperture: 32.3mm by 27.2mm, rim thickness c. 6.4mm-9mm); Blade width: 51mm; Weight: 380.5g

3. Socketed axe of Sompting type, Figheldean Down or Cardiff II variant - Other ref: IOW2014-2-311-9)

An incomplete copper-alloy socketed axe of Sompting type. The axe is missing its lower portion, with the blade and part of one face now absent. The axe has a narrow body, with a slight taper in width towards the lower portions. The socket of the axe is rectangular in plan with slightly rounded corners. It has a large rounded everted rim, which appears fairly even in its casting, with a horizontal moulding below. From this horizontal moulding springs the side loop; this has a 'D' shaped aperture and is now filled with soil. Also extending from this horizontal moulding on one face of the axe are four raised vertical ribs that each terminate in a small circular pellet; this detail is missing on the opposite face through wear and the loss of the original surface. The removals on this face have sharp and regular edges; the lower break on the axe is largely horizontal, whilst the removal on the face terminates in a curve. Casting seams are retained on either side, and in a pronounced ridge along the side loop, although they have been cleaned/hammered to neaten them. The axe appears a dark green colour underneath moderate soil, but is in fair condition. The copper-alloy has a series of bubbles, possibly indicative of the recycling of the metal (Neil Burridge pers comm.).

Inside the socket of this axe is the blade portion of a copper-alloy socketed axe of uncertain type. It is possible that this blade fragment completes the original axe, however it is more likely to belong to a secondary axe. The blade is wedge shaped with a sharp cutting edge. It has been placed into the socket mouth of the Sompting type axe diagonally so that the cutting edge rests towards the un-looped corner at the damaged side. Soil remains in the socket around this fragment (which also includes a modern root). The blade fragment has been wedged very securely into the socket and is an ancient feature.

Dimensions: Length: 109.8mm (including embedded axe fragment, 100.1mm without); Socket dimensions: 47.4mm by 42.7mm; Weight (with soil) 367.9g.

4. Socketed axe of Sompting type, Cardiff II variant - Other ref: IOW2014-2-311-3)

A copper-alloy socketed axe, possibly of Sompting type, Cardiff II variant, incomplete in that it is missing its blade. The socket is rectangular in plan with a pronounced 'D' shaped in section rim; some of this has been lost to corrosion. Below this everted rim is a horizontal moulding from which the small and complete side loop springs. On both faces of the axe three pairs of two ribs also extend (for 70.7mm) from the horizontal moulding, each terminating in a small circular pellet (known as ribbon pellet ornamentation); the exterior rib on each side utilises the side to side face transition of the axe. The body of the axe continues to expand in width but terminates in an uneven break before the blade; the blade is missing. The axe is in moderate condition, with a light to mid green corrosion layer, underneath which the grey colour of the metal is visible.

Dimensions: Length: 107.6mm; Width: 41.6mm; Socket dimensions: aperture 32.6mm by 30mm; rim thickness c. 5.2mm; Side loop dimensions: length 18mm, width 9.4mm; aperture 5.8mm by 3.3mm; Weight: 284.7g.

5. Socketed axe of East Rudham or Linear Decorated type - Other ref: IOW2014-2-311-5)

A copper-alloy socketed linear facetted axe of probable East Rudham type. The axe is incomplete, comprising the lower body portion and blade; the socket is now missing. The remaining socket aperture is sub-rectangular in plan, though it has suffered compression to one face which has forced the original surface inwards. On this same face traces of the original decoration remain; a series of thin raised ribs (c.4 to each side of the face) curve from the centre of now absent socket down through the body and out towards the two edges of the face. This detail is absent from the opposing face, obscured by corrosion which has resulted in a heavily pitted surface. The body of the axe then flares outwards to an incomplete and chipped blade, also lost through extensive corrosion. The axe has a dark green-grey colour overall, with some of the most heavily corroded areas displaying a light green corrosion product.

Inside this axe fragment is an additional fragment of copper-alloy. It appears broadly sub-rectangular in plan, with roughly cut edges. The thickness of the internal fragment in comparison to the relative thinness of the linear facetted axe suggests it comes from another object, though it has not been possible to match it with another axe from this hoard. This fragment has been firmly wedged inside the blade component of the larger axe fragment; the extent of its wedging might indicate an ancient, rather than more recent, application.

Dimensions: Length: 75mm; Socket dimensions: 28.6mm by 21.4mm; Blade width: 46.8mm; Wall thickness c. 3-3.8mm; Weight: 135.5g.

6. Socketed axe of Sompting type, possibly of Figheldean Down variant - Other ref: IOW2014-2-311-4)

A copper-alloy socketed axe of uncertain type, now incomplete. This fragment comprises the upper portions of the axe only; the blade is missing. The socket is square in plan with an uneven cast everted rim. Below this is a very slight horizontal moulding from which the complete side loop extends; this has a 'D' shaped aperture. On both faces of the axe three vertical ribs extend from the horizontal moulding, slightly diverging in width as they extend away from the socket mouth. Casting seams are retained on either side of the axe, with possible signs of having been filed/smoothed on the non-loop side. A dip in the collar portion of the axe could represent where the mould was not fully filled (Neil Burridge pers comm). The lower portion of the axe is missing, resulting in an irregular break across the decorative rib detail. The break itself is jagged, and a large crack extends up the non-loop side face, suggesting that this represents intentional fragmentation of the axe. The axe is in moderate condition; it appears very worn and is a light-mid green colour overall.

Dimensions: Length: 65.5mm; Socket dimensions: 43.3mm by 43.9mm, rim thickness: c.5.8-7.3mm; Width: 34.4mm; Side loop dimensions: length 19.5mm, width 10.5mm, loop aperture: 8.5mm by 4.7mm; Weight: 164.3g.

7. Socketed axe of Sompting type, Cardiff II variant - Other ref: IOW2014-2-311-6)

A copper-alloy socketed axe fragment of Sompting type. The axe fragment comprises the central to lower portion of the axe; both the socket mouth and blade are missing. The fragment displays the remains of a rectangular socket and is broadly trapezoidal in plan; it has a series of sharp, irregular cuts to both upper and lower edge indicative of intentional damage. One wall of the axe fragment is noticeably thicker than the other. The body of the fragment is plain, with two circular pellets visible at the upper break on one face. Casting seams are retained on either side. This axe fragment is in moderate condition and appears dark green-grey in colour.

Dimensions: Length: 51.5mm; Width (at upper break): 42.1mm, width (at blade break): 46.4mm; Wall thickness: 4.3mm by 7.2mm; Weight: 137.8g.

8. Socketed axe of uncertain type - Other ref: IOW2014-2-311-7)

A corroded and very worn fragment of a copper-alloy socketed axe of uncertain type. The fragment comprises the blade of the axe; the upper portion including the socket mouth is now missing. The socket aperture is rectangular in plan with uneven breaks to the upper edge. From this the body tapers to a wedge shaped blade, with casting seams retained on either side. The fragment is very worn, and appears a light green-grey colour as a result of the extensive corrosion to its surface.

Dimensions: Length: 49.6mm; Socket dimensions: 39.5mm by 17.9mm; Wall thickness: 4.45-5.6mm; Blade width: 45.4mm; Weight 117.8g.

9. Socketed axe of uncertain type - Other ref: IOW2014-2-311-10)

A very worn fragment of socketed axe of uncertain type. The fragment comprises the blade portion of the axe, with a rectangular in plan and triangular in section socket. The blade is wedge shaped and missing its original cutting surface; all exterior edges of the axe are now heavily worn, resulting in a slightly rounded appearance. The axe fragment appears a very light green colour with areas of red-brown discolouration.

The extensive wear on this axe suggests that this fragment is earlier than the other components of the hoard, probably dating to the Late Bronze Age. The inclusion of a find from an earlier date alongside the purposefully broken fragments reinforces the likelihood that this assemblage underwent a process of curation prior to its deposition.

Dimensions: Length: 30.1mm; Width: 41.9mm; Blade width; 46.8mm; Wall thickness: 5.4mm; Weight: 62.6g.

10. Socketed axe fragment of uncertain type - Other ref: IOW2014-2-311-8)

A very small fragment of a copper-alloy socketed axe of uncertain type. The fragment is trapezoidal in plan and would have originally formed part of the lower blade portion of the axe; traces of the recession for the socket remain on one edge. The surface of this fragment is uneven on a number of sides, although three smooth surfaces remain; these would have originally formed the two faces of the axe, along with a side face. On this side face edge of the fragment it is possible to see the remains of a casting seam which has been smoothed. The fragment is in moderate condition and appears a dark green-grey colour overall.

Dimensions: Length: 14.9mm; Width 21.5mm; Wall thickness: 7.6mm; Weight: 26.6g.

11. Fragment of copper-alloy, possibly from a socketed axe of uncertain type - Other ref: IOW2014-2-311-11)

A very small fragment of copper-alloy, possibly from a socketed axe of uncertain type. The fragment is triangular in plan and flat in section, with breaks to all edges. One surface displays a possible rib or seam, whilst the reverse of the fragment is rough and uneven. It has a green colour overall, but is in fair condition.

Dimensions: 12.7mm by 9.3mm; Thickness: 2.7mm; Weight: 1.07g

Discussion (by D. Boughton)

The hoard from Arreton (Isle of Wight) contains 11 artefacts: 9 complete or larger fragments of socketed axes and two smaller fragments of socketed axes. No other artefact types are present in this hoard. There are two or three fragments of metalwork wedged inside the sockets of two of the axes (nos. 5 and 9), but they, too, appear to be blades or wall fragments of cast copper-alloy looped socketed axes. All axes show substantial and probably intentional damage to the cutting edges. The blades of the complete axes or larger fragments are either missing (nos. 3 and 6), extremely worn (nos. 8-10), intentionally damaged (nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4) or possibly left untrimmed (no. 5).

The exact types of four of the axes are unknown because the fragments are too small or too worn (nos. 8-11), but one axe is of East Rudham or Linear-Decorated type (no. 5) and the other four axes are Early Iron Age Sompting type axes of Fighdeldean Down variant (no. 6), Cardiff II variant (nos. 4 and 7), Figheldean Down or Cardiff II variant (nos. 1 and 3) and Tower Hill variant (no. 2).

While the association of these axe types and the fact that only socketed axes were included in this hoard is not uncommon for an Early Iron Age axe hoard found in Southern England, the findspot on the Isle of Wight for these types of axes is most unusual. The Isle of Wight has produced only one hoard of Early Iron Age axes, all of Armorican type, and two single finds of Early Iron Age socketed axes, one of a possibly lower body and blade fragment (IOW-D6AE66) from near Arreton and a possible Armorican axe from Wilderness (Jones 1966, 18). The hoard of Armorican axes was found after a cliff fall near Steephill, Ventnor: four survive out of a hoard of possibly c. 30 specimens (Thomas 1989, 282; Huth 1997, 274). There are no other finds of single Early Iron Age axes from the Isle of Wight and other Early Iron Age metalwork is extremely scarce here, too.

The hoard from Arreton is especially unusual because of the different types of Early Iron Age socketed axes deposited together here. Both East Rudham and Linear-Decorated type axes as well as Sompting type axes of Cardiff II variant are common in East Anglia around the Fen edges, but rarer outside of Eastern England, although there are finds from the Midlands, East Yorkshire and Cheshire. East Rudham axes have only been found in Norfolk and the only example of an East Rudham or Linear-Decorated axe from outside of East Anglia comes from the Sompting hoard (Sussex) where two East Rudham (or, more likely, Linear-Decorated) type axes were associated with socketed axes of Sompting type (Figheldean Down, Tower Hill and Kingston variants), though there were no Sompting type, Cardiff II variant axes associated with that hoard (Curwen 1948, 157-159; Curwen 1954, 64, 203-204; O'Connor 1980, 423, no. 223 and 585, List 227, no. 28; Thomas 1989, 282; Huth 1997, 275; Gerloff 2010, 218-20, no. 59). The geographically closest find of Sompting type, Cardiff II variant socketed axes comes from Ferring, where three Cardiff II variant axes were found in association with transitional socketed axes, a socketed leather-working knife, two Gündlingen type sword blade fragments and a belt ornament (Aldsworth 1985, 4; Huth 1997, 275). With its unusual composition and findspot the hoard from Arreton looks out of place on the Isle of Wight, but considering the close coastal proximity of the hoards from Sompting and Ferring (Sussex) which include the same rare types of socketed axes, it may well fit within this group of Early Iron Age hoards.

The main difference between the hoards from Arreton, Ferring and Sompting is the condition of the axes at the time of deposition. While the axes in the Ferring and Sompting hoards were deposited in either as-cast condition or slightly worn, the axes found at Arreton show intentional damage to almost all of their blades. Where blades were still present, they were incomplete with small crescent-shaped chunks cut out or snapped off. The East Rudham type axe no. 5 looks as if it had been added to the deposit in as-cast condition, but there was an axe fragment stuck in its socket (as was in the socket of no. 3). It is unclear if the axes would have made useful tools before this intentional damage or if they had reached the end of their 'working lives'. The damage, however, strongly suggests that after deposition they were not meant to be used as tools again.

Conclusion

In light of the types and date of artefacts in this hoard, an Early Iron Age date for the deposition of the hoard can be put forward, that is c. 800-600BC. Thus, the hoard from Arreton, Isle of Wight, known as Arreton Hoard, qualifies as Treasure under the Amendment to the Treasure Act of 1996 (Category 2) which stipulates that any group of two or more metallic objects of any composition of any prehistoric date that come from the same find and found after 1 January 2003, qualify as Treasure under the Treasure Act.

References:

Aldsworth, F.G. 1985. 'Proceedings of the Summer Meeting of the Royal Archaeological Institute at Chichester. Archaeology in West Sussex'. Archaeological Journal, 142, 1-6.

Curwen, E.C. 1948. 'A Bronze Cauldron from Sompting, Essex'. Antiquaries Journal, Vol. 28, 157-163.

Curwen, E.C. 1954. The Archaeology of Sussex. London (second revised edition).

Jones, J.D. 1966. 'Archaeological Section Report'. Proceedings of the Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society 1966, 18-19.

Gerloff, S. 2010. 'Atlantic Cauldrons and Buckets of the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages in Western Europe. With a Review of Comparable Vessels from Central Europe and Italy'. Prähistorische Bronzefunde Band 2,18. Stuttgart.

Huth, C. 1997. Westeuropäische Horte der Spätbronzezeit. Regensburg.

Thomas, R. 1989. 'The Bronze-Iron transition in Southern England.' In: Stig-Sørensen, M.L. and Thomas, R. (eds.) 1989. The Bronze-Iron Age transition in Europe: aspects of continuity and change in European societies, c. 1200-500BC. Oxford, 263-286.

O'Connor, B. 1980. Cross-channel relations in the later Bronze Age. Oxford.

Stig-Sørensen, M.L. and Thomas, R. (eds.) 1989. The Bronze-Iron Age transition in Europe: aspects of continuity and change in European societies, c. 1200-500BC. Oxford.

Frank Basford

FLO (Isle of Wight)

Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure

The British Museum

Dot Boughton MPhil MSt, PhD

FLO (Lancashire and Cumbria)

Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure

The British Museum

Lucy Ellis

Assistant Collections Manager

The British Museum

Edited by:

Neil Wilkin

Curator

The British Museum

Acknowledgements: We would like to thank Brendan O'Connor and Neil Burridge for their helpful comments on the axes.