NHER 1997 (Find Spot record) - Bronze Age axehead and sword blade hoard

The Norfolk Heritage Explorer is a filtered version of the Norfolk HER intended for casual research. Please to consult the full record.

See also further .

Summary

In 1959 five Bronze Age socketed axes were found in a field in South Creake. In 1968 another two were ploughed up in the same area as the previous finds. Metal detecting on site during 1994-96 recovered more Bronze Age metalwork finds including sword blade fragments, more socketed axeheads and two sherds of a gritty pottery. It thus seems likely that these items are all part of a Bronze Age hoard.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TF83SE
Civil Parish SOUTH CREAKE, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Summer 1959. Stray Find.
Found on Mr Williamson's Farm by member of the public [1]. Surface finds.
5 Late Bronze Age copper alloy socketed axeheads. Two were brought for 2/6 by [2] - one of which was given to King's Lynn Museum (KILLM : 1962.46) and the other to "someone in Newcastle". Burnham Market C.P. School had a drawing of these objects.
The other three axeheads are untraced.
Details from KLM, 23 February 1970.
Information from (S1).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 22 February 2018.

1968. Stray Find.
Ploughed up on site of earlier find:
2 Late Bronze Age socketed axeheads. See drawing (S2).
Individual [3] also apparently found two others at the same but these were not seen in 1970.
Information from (S1).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 22 February 2018.

1994/1996. Metal-detecting.
Late Bronze Age finds at site of previous discoveries:
Socketed axehead, cutting edge damaged. Weight 252g. See drawing (S3).
Socketed axehead, loop and open end missing. Weight 157g. See drawing (S4).
Sword blade fragment, thick groove close to each edge. Weight 82g. See drawing (S5)
Sword blade fragment, very fine groove close to each edge. Weight 89g. See drawing (S6)
Cake. Weight 254g. (S7)
All drawn by T. Jenkins.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 6 September 1996.

1994/1996. In immediate area of Bronze Age metalwork finds and found at same time:
Two sherds of slightly gritty, ?groggy, possibly Bronze Age sherds.
One sherd of gritty Iron Age, basal, with profuse flint grits visible on exterior surface.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 26 November 1996.

  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • <S1> Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Bronze Age. Creake (South) [2].
  • <S2> Illustration: Clough, T.. 1970. Drawing of two Bronze Age socketed axes.. Card. 1:1.
  • <S3> Illustration: Jenkins, T. 1996. Drawing of a Late Bronze Age copper alloy socketed axehead. Paper. 1:1.
  • <S4> Illustration: Jenkins, T. 1996. Drawing of a Late Bronze Age copper alloy socketed axehead. Paper. 1:1.
  • <S5> Illustration: Jenkins, T. 1996. Drawing of a Late Bronze Age copper alloy sword blade fragment. Paper. 1:1.
  • <S6> Illustration: Jenkins, T. 1996. Drawing of a Late Bronze Age copper alloy sword blade fragment. Paper. 1:1.
  • <S7> Illustration: Jenkins, T. 1996. Drawing of Late Bronze Age copper aloy 'cake'. Paper. 1:1.
  • POT (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • HOARD (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • SOCKETED AXEHEAD (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • SOCKETED AXEHEAD (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • SWORD (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • POT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Undated)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Sep 12 2025 9:53AM

Comments and Feedback

Your feedback is welcome; if you can provide any new information about this record, please contact the Norfolk Historic Environment Record.