The Coming of Metal: The Bronze Age 2200-600BC
Plymouth Great Wood bronze axes: These four Late Bronze Age socketed axes were found together in a ‘hoard’ with a bronze spearhead in 1855 by workers quarrying in Plymouth Great Wood during construction of the Great Western Railway. (Photo copyright Viv Thomas).
The Ely Sword: This is a Late Bronze Age ‘Ewart Park’ type bronze sword blade. The handle of the sword is missing, while the blade is pitted and damaged suggesting it has been used, possibly in warfare. The Ely Sword was discovered in the silts next to the River Ely in the 1960s during extension works to the old Wiggins Teape Paper Mill. (Photo copyright Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales).