bucket;
handle
- Museum number
- 1880,1124.38
- Description
-
Copper alloy bucket handle clip fragment. The fragment has seven grooves defining eight ribs. One end is thicker than the other, presumably form part of the foot of the fragment that would have attached it to the bucket. Surface corroded with corrosion products on the underside and within the grooves. Metallic brown and green.
- Production date
- 1000BC - 800BC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Length: 28.39 millimetres
-
Weight: 69.10 grammes
-
Thickness: 0.50 centimetres
-
Width: 5 millimetres (rib)
-
Width: 2.70 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Found in the Meldreth hoard with another handle attachment of Hiberno-British type (1880 1124.38). Also found were twelve fragments of Ewart Park swords, hog's back knife, six ribbed socketed axes, three plain southeastern axes and three fragments, three faceted axes, five socketed axe fragments, small plain pegged spearhead, three spearhead fragments, socketed gouge, fragment of mortise chisel and sixteen pieces of copper ingot (3.808 kg.).
Hiberno-British buckets are characterised by tubular ribbed and ridged handle attachments cast in situ and by handles which fall on the inside of the vessel. Unlike the 'imported' strap-shaped handle attachments, Hiberno-British buckets seems to be a native development, most likely form cauldron handle attachments of class A. As the attachments are one-piece castings it is likely that they go as far back as type Tul-na-cros and type Portglenone. Moreover, like Class A cauldrons, Hiberno-British buckets are made out of three sheets (one for the bottom and two for the top). All known examples of Hiberno-British buckets have only survived as handle attachments or base plates and have all been found in 'scrap' or 'founders' hoards.
References
Gerloff, S. 2010. Atlantic Cauldrons and Buckets of the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Ages in Western Europe. Präehistorische Bronzefunde II, 18. Franz Steiner Verlag Stuttgart, Stuttgart.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition notes
- 1880,1124.1-53 found as hoard near Meldreth Station by workman, November 1880.
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1880,1124.38