Find Spot record MDO44089 - Bronze Age sword, Cranborne

A leaf-shaped sword of Late Bronze Age date said to have been unearthed in 1855 near Cranborne. Now in the British Museum.

BA sword 22 7/8" long, with point missing. Six rivet holes. Unearthed in 1855 & obtained by the late H. DURDEN, at the sale of whose Museum it was purchased by the BRITISH MUSEUM. A sword with six rivet holes was found near Cranborne. <1>

Found near CRANBORNE in 1855. LBA leaf shaped sword point missing. Flat hilt . 6 Rivet holes. Cast in Dorset Co Museum. <2>

No further information was obtained during field investigation. <3>

Incorrectly attributed to TARRANT MONKTON in <4>

<1> Oliver, V L, 1936, Bronze Age Rapiers and Swords from Dorset (Article in serial). SWX1776.

<1.1> Evans, J, 1881, The Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Ireland, 282 (Monograph). SWX3100.

<1.2> Payne, G (ed), 1892, Catalogue of the Museum of Local Antiquities collected by Mr Henry Durden of Blandford, Dorsetshire, 22 (No 72) (Monograph). SDO17125.

<2> Drew, C D, Colonel Drew's Index, Dorset County Museum (Index). SDO18316.

<3> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 20-MAY-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<4> British Archaeological Association, 1952, Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 229 (Serial). SDO18334.

Cited by NRHE.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 213672 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 19 2022 2:40PM