LATE BRONZE AGE SWORD MOULDS,

HOLBOROUGH QUARRY, SNODLAND

Origin

A large assemblage of baked clay sword mould fragments was retrieved from a deep, charcoal-rich rubbish pit associated with a small farming settlement in use during the late Bronze Age, around 1000–900BC.

Amongst other archaeological features, two ditches were identified across the site; one ditch marked the northern limits of the settlement, the second, southern ditch marked an internal division between areas within the settlement. Most of the sword mould fragments from the site were recovered from a single refuse pit to the south of the southern ditch and provide rare evidence for metalworking activities at this time.

Use

The moulds were used as clay casings for the production of bronze swords. Iron had yet to be introduced into this country at this time. Molten bronze would have been poured into the mould and allowed to harden. Experts from the British Museum have identified the moulds as probably being for a ‘Wilburton’ type sword. This type of weapon is well known throughout East Anglia, the Thames Valley and Hampshire, but evidence for their manufacture is very rare.

Discovery

Archaeological evidence from the site suggested the settlement included a number of rectangular and circular wooden domestic buildings, cattle enclosures and possible granaries.  From the many refuse pits associated with the timber buildings, a large quantity of late Bronze Age pottery was recovered along with finds of animal bone, charcoal and other domestic waste. A number of baked clay loomweights and a bone weaving tool were also found; their presence suggesting the production of textiles within the settlement. The large quantity of animal bone indicated the keeping of livestock, and the recovery of carbonised pulses and grains the growing of cereals and vegetables. In addition, at least ten pits within the western and southern areas of the site contained cremated human bone.

The discovery of the moulds suggests, perhaps surprisingly, the possible presence of a competent swordsmith within a small farming community. However, other than the sword moulds themselves, there was little supporting evidence for metalworking at the Holborough Quarry site. An alternative suggestion is that rather than the moulds having been merely thrown away, they might have been deliberately placed in certain features of the settlement as part of some kind of symbolic act.

The moulds are deemed to be of national importance and their discovery means that Holborough Quarry has become a ‘type site’ for sword production in the late Bronze Age.