Metal detector makes two identical Bronze Age discoveries – almost exactly 20 years apart

A metal detector has made two identical finds from the Bronze Age – almost exactly 20 years apart. Jamie Holland told a treasure hunt in Truro on Monday (July 22) how he found a single palstave – or Bronze Age ax – two decades ago in a pasture field in the historic district of Restormel.

He said that after reading a previous treasure inquest held by Assistant Coroner for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Guy Davies in the Bronze Age, he decided to revisit the same area with his metal detector. On July 13 last year, he appeared on the field in question and had a ping for a metal object about seven centimeters below the surface.

He told the inquest: “It was a beautiful evening. I was wondering in the field and I went to the place where I found the ax 20 years ago. I couldn’t believe it when there was still an ax head in the ground. M -went back to the car and did a quick scan, found another signal but 12 inches down was another ax head.

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Mr Holland found two palstaves and a Bronze Age trunnion chisel during the first visit and 11 more on two other occasions between July 13 and July 25.

New discoveries liaison officer for Cornwall, Laura Miucci, told the hearing that the palstaves and single chisel showed signs of use but were not thrown away because they were blunt, but instead buried in the ground for safekeeping. She said the copper alloy ax heads were about the same design and dimensions, weighing about 530g each, and were typical of the southwestern style for the period 1,600-1,200 BC.

Ms Miucci told the hearing that the palstaves had the same high flanges and cutting edge width, meaning they were probably all made using a similar mould, although they probably came from different Cornish workshops.

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“They were probably deposited as a close group and earmarked to come back at a later stage, like putting money under the mattress.”

She said they were similar in style to other hoards found in Surrey, Berkshire and Wales, Somerset and even the Netherlands, which helped in the dating process. Although containing no more than 10% of precious metal, the hoard of Bronze Age ax heads was declared a treasure by Mr Davies because of the age and large number of objects found, as was a hoard of ancient metal coins priceless.

Bude Castle Museum is understood to have expressed an interest in purchasing the hoard. In Cornwall, all treasures belong to the Duchy of Cornwall as a Crown franchisee, unless disclaimed by the Crown.