Information for record number MWA7365:
Findspot - Bronze Age metalwork

Summary Findspot - two pieces of metalwork, a dagger and a blade, dating to the Bronze Age were found 850m east of The Rookery, Salford Priors.
What Is It?  
Type: Findspot
Period: Late Bronze Age (1400 BC - 1000 BC)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Salford Priors
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 07 52
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Two examples of Bronze Age metalwork found using a metal detector in 1994.
2 Two examples of Bronze Age metalwork were discovered close to a gravel pit near the village of Salford Priors on 9/7/94. The first is a dagger, comprising a double-edged blade with a tapering midrib and a notched butt which appears to be broken and may once have been riveted onto a handle. In relative chronology this type of dagger is assigned to the Penard phase of the later Middle Bronze Age. In absolute terms this represents the 12th century to 11th century BC. The second find is a blade fragment, probably from a palstave of Middle Bronze Age date (1400-1000 BC). As with the dagger, the bronze is in very good condition with no sign of corrosion. A survey of the site within a 2km radius of the find spot of the 2 pieces of metalwork provides further evidence of Bronze Age occupation. Aerial photography reveals a possible Neolithic/Bronze Age ring ditch and small rectangular enclosure less than 1km from the latest find. A further site in the area has yielded a large quantity of later Bronze Age pottery and there have been 3 separate discoveries of assorted prehistoric flint objects.
3 Drawing.
4 Location in summary and grid reference do not match. Perhaps east should be west?
 
Sources
Source No: 3
Source Type: Drawing
Title: Bronze Age dagger from Salford Priors
Author/originator: Baker K
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Museum Enquiry Form
Title: WMEF 3197
Author/originator: Wise P J
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 3197
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMA vol 37 (1994)
Author/originator: White, R (ed)
Date: 1995
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 37
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Verbal communication
Title: Pers. Comm. Magnus Alexander
Author/originator: Magnus Alexander
Date: 2006
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source WMA West Midlands Archaeology. This publication contains a short description for each of the sites where archaeological work has taken place in the previous year. It covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire. Some of these descriptions include photographs, plans and drawings of the sites and/or the finds that have been discovered. The publication is produced by the Council For British Archaeology (CBA) West Midlands and is published annually. Copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source WMEF Warwickshire Museum Enquiry Form. These are forms that are filled in when a person brings an object to Warwickshire Museum to be identified. Amongst the information recorded on the form are details such as a description of the object, where and when it was found, and in some cases a sketch or photographs of it. Copies of the form can be viewed at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique Aerial Photograph Aerial photographs are taken during an aerial survey, which involves looking at the ground from above. It is usually easier to see cropmarks and earthworks when they are viewed from above. Aerial photographs help archaeologists to record what they see and to identify new sites. There are two kinds of aerial photographs; oblique and vertical. back
period Prehistoric About 500,000 BC to 42 AD

The Prehistoric period covers all the periods from the Palaeolithic to the end of the Iron Age.
This is a time when people did not write anything down so there is no documentary evidence for archaeologists to look at. Instead, the archaeologists look at the material culture belonging to the people and the places where they lived for clues about their way of life.

The Prehistoric period is divided into the Early Prehistoric and Later Prehistoric.
The Early Prehistoric period covers the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods.
The Later Prehistoric period covers Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age times.
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period Neolithic About 4000 BC to 2351 BC

The word ‘Neolithic’ means ‘New Stone Age’. Archaeologists split up the Neolithic period into three phases; early, middle and late. The Neolithic period comes after the Mesolithic period and before the Bronze Age.

People in the Neolithic period hunted and gathered food as their ancestors had but they were also began to farm. They kept animals and grew crops. This meant that they were able to settle more permanently in one location instead of constantly moving from place to place to look for food.
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period Bronze Age About 2500 BC to 700 BC

The Bronze Age comes after the Neolithic period and before the Iron Age.

The day to day life of people in the Bronze Age probably changed little from how their ancestors had lived during the Neolithic period. They still lived in farmsteads, growing crops and rearing animals.

During the Bronze Age people discovered how to use bronze, an alloy of tin and copper (hence the name that has given to this era). They used it to make their tools and other objects, although they continued to use flint and a range of organic materials as well. A range of bronze axes, palstaves and spears has been found in Warwickshire.
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monument VILLAGE * A collection of dwelling-houses and other buildings, usually larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a simpler organisation and administration than the latter. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument FINDSPOT * The approximate location at which stray finds of artefacts were found. Index with object name. back
monument RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE * A rectangular shaped area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or similar barrier. back
monument GRAVEL PIT * A steep-sided pit formed by, and for, the extraction of gravel. back
monument RING DITCH * Circular or near circular ditches, usually seen as cropmarks. Use the term where the function is unknown. Ring ditches may be the remains of ploughed out round barrows, round houses, or of modern features such as searchlight emplacements. back
monument SIGN * A board, wall painting or other structure displaying advice, giving information or directions back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record