River Tyne, bronze sword
River Tyne, bronze sword
HER Number
768
District
Newcastle
Site Name
River Tyne, bronze sword
Place
Newcastle
Map Sheet
NZ26SE
Class
Monument <By Form>
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
Site Type: Specific
Sword
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Bronze Age -2,600 to -700
Form of Evidence
Find
Description
First published in 1881, its discovery is not well recorded, but it is said to have been dredged from the Tyne a little below Newcastle in the same place as HER no. 767, perhaps near Tyne Bridge, in 1885. It was eventually donated to the Society of Antiquaries by the then Tyne Improvement Commissioners. It is described by Cowen thus: "An elegant piece in brilliant condition, lacks the tip. Semi-circular notch in upper edge of pommel-piece is little more than the enlarged lower half of a peg-hole". The sword is described as 694 or 700 mm long, and has once been in two pieces. The handle is pierced by 7 rivet-holes, 4 on the butt and 3 on the handle. It is similar to, but slightly longer than, Her No. 767, with which it has previously been confused.
Easting
425400
Northing
563800
Grid Reference
NZ425400563800
Sources
<< HER 768 >> J. Evans, 1881, The Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons...of Great Britain and Ireland, p. 281 and fig. 344
R. Blair, 1887, Donations to the Museum,Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 2, II (for 1885-6), p. 333
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1889, 2, III (for 1887-88), 233, 253, 309, opp. 408
Photo, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1907, 3, II (for 1905-06), opp. p. 226, no. 3
O. Montelius, 1908, The Chonology of the British Bronze Age, Archaeologia, LXI, p. 143, pl. XVII fig. 142
W.P. Brewis, 1923, Archaeologia, LXXII, pp. 258-9 pls. XLI-XLII, figs. 25, 25 a & b
M.H. Dodds, ed. 1930, Prehistoric Period, Northumberland County History, XIII, p.21 figs. 20 and 22, and p. 22
J.D. Cowen, 1967, The Hallstatt Sword of Bronze: on the Continent and in Britain,Proceedings Prehisotirc Society, XXXIII, p. 444 no. 198
A.J. Challis & D.W. Harding, 1975, Later Prehistory from the Trent to the Tyne, British Archaeological Report, 20 pt. ii, p. 35 and fig. 76 no. 2
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 44 and p. 46 fig. 14 no. 9
R. Blair, 1887, Donations to the Museum,Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 2, II (for 1885-6), p. 333
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1889, 2, III (for 1887-88), 233, 253, 309, opp. 408
Photo, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1907, 3, II (for 1905-06), opp. p. 226, no. 3
O. Montelius, 1908, The Chonology of the British Bronze Age, Archaeologia, LXI, p. 143, pl. XVII fig. 142
W.P. Brewis, 1923, Archaeologia, LXXII, pp. 258-9 pls. XLI-XLII, figs. 25, 25 a & b
M.H. Dodds, ed. 1930, Prehistoric Period, Northumberland County History, XIII, p.21 figs. 20 and 22, and p. 22
J.D. Cowen, 1967, The Hallstatt Sword of Bronze: on the Continent and in Britain,Proceedings Prehisotirc Society, XXXIII, p. 444 no. 198
A.J. Challis & D.W. Harding, 1975, Later Prehistory from the Trent to the Tyne, British Archaeological Report, 20 pt. ii, p. 35 and fig. 76 no. 2
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 44 and p. 46 fig. 14 no. 9