Description

Summary: 1 bronze knife dagger with two rivets (twisted and distorted by heat, of pyre?) found with primary cremation in Bowl Barrow Wilsford G65, excavated by William Cunnington

Research results

A Bronze Age copper alloy small dagger or knife, excavated by William Cunnington in the early 19th century in Bowl Barrow Wilsford G65. The knife was found with the primary cremation of the barrow, and appears to have been bent prior to deposition and has also been damaged by the heat of the cremation pyre.

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.