A Bronze Age possibly cut-down cast bronze spear tip with a socket. The spear has rounded edges and one side has seven nicks which create seven 'barbs'. From Chilcomb, Hampshire.

A Bronze Age possibly cut-down cast bronze spear tip with a socket. The spear has rounded edges and one side has seven nicks which create seven 'barbs'. From Chilcomb, Hampshire.

Bronze spearhead fragment

Late Bronze Age, about 900BC -700BC

Found at Chilcomb, Hampshire in 2013

What makes this fragment of a Bronze Age spearhead particularly interesting and unique are the seven nicks in one side creating a serrated edge with seven 'barbs'. The fragmentary nature of the object makes it difficult to interpret. Cuts in the blade edges of Bronze Age spearheads are normally the result of combat damage or an intentional "killing" of spearheads before burial as an offering to the Gods. Excellent examples of this "killing" are found in some of the spearheads from the Blackmoor Hoard, also from Hampshire. However, intentional cuts in blade edges are normally found in spearheads that are deposited when complete or with a large part remaining, not just as a fragment as in this case. The cuts could be decorative given that four of the cuts are at regular intervals, or perhaps they were cut to form a tool, but this seems unlikely as the jagged edges are not sharp.

Portable Antiquities Scheme find number SUR-0FB443.

A Bronze Age possibly cut-down cast bronze spear tip with a socket. The spear has rounded edges and one side has seven nicks which create seven 'barbs'. From Chilcomb, Hampshire.