Co Down: Archaeological Objects at The British Museum
The British Museum
holds 62 items identified as coming from Co Down, along with a further two
items attributed to Antrim/Down. The majority of these (16) are assigned to the
Bronze Age, followed by the Neolithic/Bronze Age (13) and Medieval period (11).
The most common object type represented are vessels (15), followed by axes (8).
The most common material types represented in this assemblage are Metal (28)
and Stone (17), followed by Pottery (15), Glass (3), and Bone (1).
Neolithic: Stone items
Down
scraper (?); flake
20050504.960
Flint flake, possibly
used as scraper; some percussive ripples remaining on lower side; retouching is
bifacial but is for the most part concentrated on upper face; brown colour.
Down
scraper (?); flake
20050504.970
Flint flake, possibly
used as knife or scraper; retouched bifacially, mostly concentrated on upper
side, which is backed; one end is rounded whilst opposite is slightly pointed;
orange-brown colour.
Moira
leaf arrow-head
18470505.300
Flint leaf shaped
arrow-head.
Moira
leaf arrow-head
18470505.200
Flint leaf shaped
arrow-head.
Neolithic/Bronze Age: Pottery items
Pottery
Down
vessel
Pottery vessel.
Pottery
Dundrum
vessel
18951015.100
Pottery vessel.
Neolithic/Bronze Age: Stone items
Down
axe
19641206.899
Polished stone axe;
butt missing; chipped blade; dappled grey and orange colour.
Down
axe
19641201.618
Polished stone axe;
butt missing; chipped blade.
Down
axe
19641201.617
Polished stone axe;
butt end missing.
Down
axe
20050501.303
Polished stone axe with
slightly damaged butt, chipped blade; groove/deep scratch on face.
Down
axe
20050501.302
Polished stone axe with
slightly damaged, flat butt; blunt blade edge.
Down
borer
Sturge.2298
Flint borer,
leaf-shaped; made on a flake; flaked on upper face to create backing; bulb of
percussion and percussive ripples remain on lower face; dark brown colour.
Murlough
notched scraper
18881116.100
Flint notched scraper.
Murlough
notched scraper
18881116.200
Flint notched scraper.
Murlough
notched scraper
18881116.300
Flint notched scraper.
Neolithic (?)/Bronze Age (?)/Iron Age (?): Bone item
Down
human cremation
189,0517.2.a
Human cremated bone (1
bag).
Neolithic (?)/Bronze Age (?)/Iron Age (?): Pottery items
Dundrum
vessel
19760102.200
Pottery rim sherd,
plain.
Dundrum
vessel
19760102.100
Pottery rim sherd with
incised decoration.
Bronze Age: Metal items
Gilford
axe
WG.1551
Copper alloy axe; cast.
Garvaghy
dagger
WG.1605
Copper alloy dagger.
Down (between
Hillsborough and Lisburn)
axe
18680709.100
Copper alloy miniature
axe; cast.
Crown Roth/Newry
razor
18680709.200
Copper alloy razor.
Rathkiltair (The Mound
of Down)
axe
19681210.100
Cast, flanged copper
alloy axe. Wide, splaying semi-circular cutting edge and undecorated surfaces.
Type Derryniggin in Harbison's typology of 1969.
Domore
bracelet
WG.472
Copper alloy bracelet,
with ring attached.
Down
spear-head
19641201.760
Copper alloy socketed
spear-head. Perforation in blade
Down
spear-head
19641201.770
Copper alloy socketed
spear-head, pegged. Stripped surface, with bright coppery colour.
Down
spear-head
19641201.780
Copper alloy socketed
spear-head, tip missing
Drumgooland
pin
19211206.330
Copper alloy sunflower
headed pin.
Garvagh
spear-head
WG.1628
Copper alloy socketed
spear-head, pegged.
Clough
fitting
WG.474
Copper alloy fitting.
Ring with two perforations in circumference.
Clough
fitting
WG.475
Copper alloy fitting.
Ring with two perforations in circumference.
Clough
fitting
WG.476
Copper alloy fitting.
Ring with two perforations in circumference.
Clough
fitting
WG.477
Copper alloy fitting.
Ring with two perforations in circumference.
Clough
fitting
WG.478
Copper alloy fitting.
Ring with two perforations in circumference.
Early Bronze Age: Metal item
Dromore
flat axe
WG.1526
Copper-alloy flat axe;
thin, slightly rounded butt. Sides gently splay outwards to form a rounded,
shallow cutting-edge.
Late Bronze Age: Metal items
Clough (?)
socketed axe
WG.1560
Copper alloy socketed
axe; cast. Round mouth with bevelled rim. The remains of a casting jet occur.
Banbridge
sword
WG.1230
Copper alloy sword. The
terminal end of the tang has been cast on.
Clough
socketed axe
WG.1585
Copper alloy socketed
axe. Body cross-section octagonal. The mouth flares and the rim is decorated
with notches. There is a low ridge at the base of the neck.
Dromore
socketed axe
WG.1558
Copper alloy socketed
axe; cast. Oval mouth with rounded rim. Loop is set at base of moulding.
Cutting edge is well expanded with re-curved tips.
Dromore
socketed axe
WG.1583
Copper alloy socketed
axe, cast. In place of usual ridge there is a slight hollow beneath the mouth
moulding.
The Ardes
socketed axe
18901113.100
Copper alloy socketed
axe; cast. Body hexagonal in cross-section. Edge is slightly damaged. Three
facial ridges, one also at each face-side angle.
Phoenician (?); Late Period (?): Stone item
Dundrum (mid 19th
Century)
stamp-seal (?);
scaraboid (?)
E48502
Oval, pale brown and
grey mottled agate-chalcedony scaraboid or scarab-shaped stamp-seal with a
slightly domed back.
8thC BC (circa)
Iron Age: Glass items
Down
bracelet
18561222.300
Glass bracelet.
Loughey
bracelet
18561222.200
Glass bracelet.
Loughey
bead (x150)
18620701.900
150 Glass beads
Iron Age: Metal items
Down
brooch
19641201.790
Copper alloy brooch.
Pin missing
 |
| Collection of material from Co. Down |
Clough
pin
18980618.310
Copper alloy pin, ring
headed. The front forms a broad convex surface and is decorated with incised
cross-hatching.
300 BC - AD 100 (circa)
Early Medieval: Metal items
Newry (near)
latchet
19130715.600
Copper alloy latchet.
Single-sided casting in a serpentine shape with a flat disc at one end and a
small scalloped terminal at the other.
6thC
Newry (near)
latchet
19130715.500
Leaded bronze latchet;
oval section; flat circular head with central rosette within ribbed circle;
sub-rectangular stem with four triangles.
6thC-7thC
Drumadonnell
ringed pin
19211206.390
Bronze kidney-ringed
pin with polyhedral brambled head; shank of oval section.
11thC-12thC
Medieval: Pottery items
Downpatrick, kiln area
vessel
19790603.110
Pottery
vessel(fragment); base.
14thC
Downpatrick, kiln area
vessel
19790603.100
Pottery
vessel(fragment).
14thC
Downpatrick, kiln area
vessel
19790603.900
Pottery
vessel(fragment).
14thC
Downpatrick, kiln area
vessel
19790603.500
Pottery
vessel(fragment); patches of slip or glaze on exterior.
14thC
Downpatrick, kiln area
vessel
19790603.300
Pottery
vessel(fragment).
14thC
Downpatrick, kiln area
vessel
19790603.700
Pottery jug(fragment);
body or handle.
14thC
Downpatrick, kiln area
vessel
19790603.800
Pottery
vessel(fragment); body sherd; sandy orange-tan ware.
14thC
Downpatrick, kiln area
vessel
19790603.400
Pottery
vessel(fragment).
14thC
Downpatrick, kiln area
vessel
19790603.200
Pottery
vessel(fragment).
14thC
Downpatrick, kiln area
vessel
19790603.100
Pottery
vessel(fragment) with patch of glaze.
14thC
Downpatrick, kiln area
vessel
19790603.600
Pottery
vessel(fragment).
14thC
Unknown: Stone item
Down, Lake
bead
18950723.470
Stone bead, spherical
greyish translucent.
The following items are listed in the museum catalogue as coming from either Antrim or Down:
Neolithic/Bronze Age: Stone items
Clough (?)
notched scraper
19020311.110
Flint notched scraper.
Clough (?)
macehead (?)
19020311.500
Partially perforated
battered stone macehead, oval shaped, grey in colour, smooth surface, chipped
areas.
Cool! Thanks for doing this
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