Man unearths Bronze Age dagger in field
Submitted by coldrum on Thursday, 01 February 2007 Page Views: 1433
Neolithic and Bronze AgeCountry: England County: CumbriaInternal Links:
A METAL detecting enthusiast has unearthed a 3,600-year-old dagger from the depths of a South Lakeland field.
The finder, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear others will descend on the secret site, said he could not believe his luck when he stumbled across the Bronze Age relic.
"I was going along a small footpath when I got a good signal from the detector. I dug down a few inches and saw a piece of green metal," he explained.
"My immediate reaction was it's Bronze Age'."
After carefully exhuming the delicate dagger, the member of the Kendal and District Metal Detecting Club contacted Kendal Museum.
The 1600BC relic, which has been confirmed as bona fide Bronze Age by experts at the British Museum, is now being safely stored by the finder.
"It's the oldest find I've had in 15 years of detecting.
"I've been told by experts that this is one of five of its kind in the whole country," he said.
"People often think that metal detectors are just scavengers looking out for other people's losses.
"But we are a responsible group who are here to enrich the local history of Kendal and the surrounding area."
Finds liaison officer for the Portable Antiquities Scheme, Faye Simpson, who examined the seven-and-a-half-inch dagger, said: "It is very rare to find something like this dagger in such good condition.
"We have had some prehistoric finds in the area before but nothing like this."
She added: "This find is significant in terms of someone was there in that age and the reason it was deposited there.
"But in terms of value, it is hard to say archaeologically, it is very valuable."
The Kendal and District Metal Detecting Club meets on the last Thursday of every month at the Cock and Dolphin, Kendal.
By Lisa Frascarelli
thewestmorlandgazette.
We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.