Abstract
THE BRONZE AGE IN ESSEX.—A useful descriptive catalogue by Mr. Charles H. Butcher of the Essex Bronze Age implements and tools in the Colchester Museum inaugurates a series of Borough of Colchester Museum Publications. From the general character of the Bronze Age finds in Essex it would seem that this area retained its neolithic influences until a comparatively late date, and that the period contemporary with the barrows and burial mounds was of short duration. The greater proportion of the Bronze Age belongs to the period when founding was universal, and the socketed axes, leaf-shaped swords, and bronze spear-heads were in use. Evidences of continental influence are marked, especially in types of winged axes, rare in Britain, but commoner on the Continent, and curved tanged knives resembling those commonly found in Switzerland. These come from a hoard found at Grays Thurrock, as does also a halberd blade of hitherto unrecorded type. Of a number of hoards found in the county, this was the most remarkable, as it was the largest, the number of pieces being 298, and including socketed axes, leaf-shaped spear-heads, leaf-shaped swords, tanged and socketed knives, part of a mould, and 68 lumps of copper and bronze.
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Research Items. Nature 113, 403–404 (1924). https://doi.org/10.1038/113403a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/113403a0