Description

Summary: 1 bronze knife dagger, broad-bladed with parallel lines and a hollow along each side of its centre, with 3 rivet holes [possibly] found with a primary cremation in Bell Barrow West Overton G4, part of a twin bell barrow (G3 and G4) with a bowl barrow (G3a) placed between them, excavated by William Cunnington

Research results

A Bronze Age copper alloy dagger, possibly the dagger found by William Cunnington when he excavated bell barrow West Overton G4 in the early 19th century. Also found in this barrow was a small bone hook which may have been used to attach the sheath of the dagger to a strap or belt. This dagger is of form which is typically dated to c. 1750-1500 BC, whilst bone hooks such as these are typically found with burials of period 2000-1700 BC, so this may represent an unusually late example of this form of strap fitting.