Find Spot record MDO47617 - Bronze Age dagger, Weymouth

A bronze dagger with three rivets found in 1917, with part of a human jaw at a chalk cutting by crossroads. ? Whether from a levelled barrow. Perhaps found in the parish of Weymouth but could also be Portesham or Winterborne St Martin. <1>

Bronze Age dagger found in a chalk bank by the side of the Dorchester-Weymouth Road on Ridgeway. Two of the three rivets were still in situ.The cutting was probably through or close to a barrow. (No mention of a cross roads as referred to in Authy 1). Now in the Dorset County Museum. <2>

(SY 671859) Site marked on Bristol Museum 6" with a note to verify siting from Dorchester Museum 6" <3.1>. Not noted <3.2>. <3>

The dagger, which is strengthened by a marked rib, was seen in the Dorset County Museum. A plaque states that it was found in 1916 on the Ridgeway whilst the road from Dorchester to Weymouth was being widened. Accn No 1916.1.1. <4>

Accepting the information in Authy 4 as correct the siting in Authy 3 would be correct to the nearest 50.0m as it falls in the middle of a road cutting 100.0m long, which at this point cuts through the chalk.<5>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1918, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club for 1916-17, xxxvii (Serial). SDO26.

<2> Grinsell, L V, 1935-54, Dorset Barrows 1935-54 Manuscript (Unpublished document). SWX1556.

<3> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F1 GCS 20-JUL-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<3.1> Anon, Undated, Pte. 6" Bristol Museum (Map). SDO18510.

<3.2> Anon, Undated, Pte 6 inch Dorset County Museum (Anon undated) (Map). SWX2203.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 452063 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<4> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F2 GCS 23-JUL-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<5> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F3 JR 03-AUG-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

Record last edited

Dec 23 2023 7:51AM