17 June 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Rare Bronze Age Metalworking Hoard Discovered in Wiltshire, Including an Anvil

A remarkable discovery has been made in Urchfont, a village located in Wiltshire, England, where a Bronze Age hoard of copper alloy tools has been unearthed, including an exceptionally rare anvil. This collection, dating back to approximately 1650-900 B.C., is believed to have belonged to a skilled metalworker.

The significance of this find lies not only in the rarity of the artifacts but also in what they reveal about ancient metalworking practices. The presence of the anvil, a crucial tool for shaping and crafting metal, suggests that the owner was engaged in specialized metalwork, possibly as a goldsmith. This contrasts with the more common role of blacksmiths, indicating a focus on fine metalwork and the creation of intricate designs.

The find began last February when a metal detectorist stumbled upon a tanged chisel. Recognizing the significance of the discovery, he promptly ceased digging and reported the find to the Wiltshire Finds Liaison. Subsequent excavations revealed several additional artifacts, including fragments of copper alloy sheeting and a copper alloy rod.

Archaeologists transported the remaining hoard in a single soil block to the British Museum for micro-excavation under controlled laboratory conditions to ensure careful analysis.


Archaeologists transported the remaining hoard in a single soil block to the British Museum for micro-excavation under controlled laboratory conditions to ensure careful analysis.
Archaeologists transported the remaining hoard in a single soil block to the British Museum for micro-excavation under controlled laboratory conditions to ensure careful analysis.

The excavation of the soil block yielded an array of intriguing items: more fragments of copper alloy sheeting, a hacksaw blade, a looped palstave axe, and remnants of at least two decorated copper alloy vessels. Additionally, fragments of sheet metal and a small copper alloy bar, likely part of a chisel handle or another small tool, were discovered. Notably, organic and charred materials were also preserved within the dense soil, providing further insights into the context of the hoard.

Among the most telling artifacts are two pieces of a pouring basin with sprues, indicating that the hoard’s owner was likely a metal craftsman. The presence of the small, silver-colored anvil suggests that this individual specialized in fine metalwork, possibly as a goldsmith rather than a blacksmith.

The Wiltshire Museum has expressed a great interest in acquiring this significant hoard, which not only sheds light on the craftsmanship of the Bronze Age but also enriches our understanding of the region’s historical metalworking practices. This discovery is a testament to the enduring legacy of ancient artisans and their contributions to the development of metallurgy.

Cover Image Credit: Wiltshire Museum

Related Articles

Medieval double grave discovered with majestic objects inside the circular ditch

22 August 2022

22 August 2022

An early medieval double grave was discovered in Kirchheim am Neckar Friedrichstrasse, southern Germany, during excavations supervised by the State...

3000-year-old clay figurine discovered in Germany may be a prehistoric water goddess

14 July 2022

14 July 2022

Archaeologists have discovered a rare clay figurine thought to represent a prehistoric water goddess in the Schweinfurt region of Germany....

Around 400-year-old Bronze idols found during house construction in India

25 April 2024

25 April 2024

Three bronze idols, estimated to be about 400 years old, were unearthed during excavation for a house construction project in...

An 8,500-year-old trepanned skull discovered in Çatalhöyük

23 December 2023

23 December 2023

Traces of trepanation (skull drilling operation) were found on a skull found in the 9,000-year-old Çatalhöyük, near the modern city...

3,000-Year-Old Lost Anatolian language ‘Kalašma’ deciphered

5 July 2024

5 July 2024

In 2023 excavation site at the foot of Ambarlikaya in Boğazköy-Hattusha in Turkey, a cuneiform tablet with a previously unknown...

World’s Largest Geoglyphs Found in the Thar Desert

29 May 2021

29 May 2021

A massive spiral encompassing 100,000 square meters unearthed in the Indian desert may be the greatest drawing ever drawn. The...

Ruins of China’s earliest state academy found in east China

21 February 2022

21 February 2022

The ruins of ancient China‘s first government-run institution of higher learning, built in 374 BC, have been discovered in the...

A ‘Talismanic Grave Tablet’ Believed to Protect From Evil Found in Silifke Castle

3 September 2024

3 September 2024

During excavations in the Silifke castle located on lies on a hill in the town with the same name in...

Unique Two-Faced Gold Ring Unearthed in Poland

10 February 2024

10 February 2024

A gold ring with an unusual two-faced design, likely to be from the 11th or 12th century, has been discovered...

Croatian Team Finds a Way to Effectively and Permanently Preserve Stuka Aircraft Wreck Under the Sea

11 December 2024

11 December 2024

 The ICUA Zadar team of conservators and archaeologists carried out in situ underwater conservation of the wreckage of the Junkers...

A Unique Structure Discovered in the City of David Ancient Jerusalem – The Only One of Its Kind

14 January 2025

14 January 2025

A unique structure was discovered on the eastern slope of the City of David, within the Walls of the Jerusalem...

Citizen scientists discover more than 1,000 new burial mounds in a Dutch archaeological project

29 January 2023

29 January 2023

A Dutch archaeological project in which thousands of amateur sleuths combed specialized maps and high resolution photographs resulted in the...

Luxurious 2,200-year-old King Tomb Discovered in China

3 May 2024

3 May 2024

Archaeologists have unearthed a luxurious 2,200-year-old tomb in eastern China, the largest, highest-ranking, and most structurally complex ever unearthed, which...

Archaeologists find new clues about North Carolina’s ‘Lost Colony’ from the 16th century

11 May 2024

11 May 2024

Archaeologists from The First Colony Foundation have yielded a tantalizing clue about the fate of the Lost Colony, the settlers...

The 3400-year-old city belonging to a mysterious Kingdom emerged from the Tigris river

30 May 2022

30 May 2022

Archaeologists from Germany and Kurdistan have discovered a 3,400-year-old Mittani Empire-era city on the Tigris River. The ruins emerged on...