The Melksham Hoard
A group of three copper alloy horse harness fittings called phalera, dated to the Earliest Iron Age. The phalera were discovered amongst the spoil generated during the diversion of the river Avon for the Melksham by-pass, and although presented to the museum later, were found in the same area of the river Avon as a group of similarly dated spearheads, and the two groups are probably related. Interestingly, one of the phalaerae has been ritually 'killed' by being stabbed repeatedly by a bladed weapon - perhaps one of the spears or the dirk blade found in the initial group?
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.
Image Gallery
Field Collection
Date: 1972
Method: Chance Find
Parish: Melksham
County: Wiltshire
Site name: Melksham Bypass
Context: Spoil
Grid reference: SU9063
Map
Description
Material: Metal, Copper Alloy
Length: 227mm
Width: 227mm
Height:24mm
References
Osgood, R.
1995
Three Bronze Phalerae from the River Avon, near Melksham
WANHM
88
50-59
Boughton, D.
2019
Connecting with the Past: Earliest Iron Age Multi-Period Hoards in Wessex
Objects of the Past in the Past: Investigating the significance of earlier artefacts in later contexts
Archaeopress
42-59
ISBN: 978-1-78969-248-8
Details
Accession Number: DZSWS:1981.153.1
Simple Name: Harness Fitting
Other Name: Harness Furniture
Full name: Phalerae
Classification: Archaeology, Iron Age
Related Objects:
DZSWS:1981.153.1
DZSWS:1981.153.2
DZSWS:1981.153.3
DZSWS:1972.9