Description

Summary: 1 copper knife dagger, with large tang and bevelled edge, found with two crouched primary male inhumations (archers?) in bowl barrow Mere G6a, found by Mr. Fenton

Research results

A copper alloy tanged dagger blade excavated by a Mr. Fenton and purchased by the Museum from Richard Colt hoare in 1883; it had been found with the primary burial of bowl barrow Mere G6a. It was placed in a long grave beneath the barrow, alongside a 'large man' who had a smaller individual, possibly younger and/or female, buried to his right. Simple tanged daggers of this form are normally associated with early Beaker burials of the Earliest Bronze Age, often refered to as the Chalcolithic (c. 2450-2200 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.