Description

Summary: 1 bronze phalerae or harness disc, with loop at back rivetted on, from the River Avon at Melksham, 650-550BC

Research results

An Earliest Iron Age copper alloy phalerae, found in the spoil from dredging of the river Avon during the construction of the Melksham bypass in 1972. The phalerae were found in the same 50m of river as an earlier group of socketed spearheads, and were likely from the same, or a related, deposit. Phalerae were probably a form of horse or chariot harness fitting, and are ultimately continental in origin. This phalerae appears to have been ritually 'killed' and was stabbed repeatedly by a sword, dirk or rapier, prior to being deposited. It's excellent preservation is due to it resting in anaerobic conditions and it was probably buried in boggy land adjacent to the river. The phalerae belong to the Llyn Fawr metal working phase, now known to be contemporary with the earliest Iron Age.

The Melksham hoard has been photographed by Boughton (2019), who notes that it is one of only two Llyn Fawr hoards known in the country to not contain a socketed axehead.