Find Spot record MDO8617 - Palstave Hoard, Bournemouth Hospital, Castle Lane East, Bournemouth

A hoard of ten Middle Bronze Age palstaves was discovered during the construction of the Bournemouth Hospital in 1985. Limited excavations by Poole Museum suggested the hoard was an isolated feature. The surviving palstaves are all products of the same mould.

A hoard of ten Middle Bronze Age palstaves was discovered during the construction of the new Bournemouth Hospital at SZ 1294 (approx). Five are now lost and not all of the remainder are available for study but it is believed they are very similar. <1>

In 1986, an area of 10 metre squared was excavated 6.0 m from the site of the find, but no features were discovered indicating that the hoard is localised. <2>

A hoard of ten palstaves was discovered during works associated with the construction of the Bournemouth Hospital in 1985. Poole Museum excavated small areas adjacent to and on the site of the discovery in 1987 and 1988. No archaeological features were discovered suggesting the hoard is an isolated feature.

Only five of the original ten palstaves were available for study, but the others were said to be similar. All five were products of the same mould and were unfinished. They are unusually small being 120mm long. The palstaves have been identified as belonging to Rowland's Class 2 or 'sideflanged' category and dated to the period around 1350-1200 BC.
The hoard fits into the pattern of palstave hoards in the south coast region of this period, where the objects are packed tightly together and deposited away from contemporary occupation areas. (1) (2) (3)

<1> Jarvis, K S, 1985, Interim report on a Hoard of Middle-Bronze Age Palstaves From Bournemouth, 153 (Article in serial). SWX4395.

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1986, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1985, 153 (Serial). SDO85.

<2> Jarvis, K S, 1987, Bournemouth Hospital Middle Bronze Age Hoard Site., 123 (Article in serial). SWX4396.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1988, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1987, 123 (Serial). SDO87.

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1993, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1992, 253-254 (Serial). SDO92.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 884571 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 27 2022 2:57PM