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2023
Journal article
The organics revolution: new narratives and how we can achieve them
Organic remains from excavated sites include a wide range of materials, from distinct organisms (‘ecofacts’) to biomolecules. Biomolecules provide a variety of new research avenues, while ecofacts with longer histories of study are now being re-harnessed in unexpected ways. These resources are unlocking research potential, transcending what was previously imagined...Johnston, P ; Booth, T ; Carlin, N ; Cramp, L ; Edwards, B …
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2023
Journal article
Nostalgia in the prehistoric archaeological record
Evidence from the prehistoric archaeological record clearly shows that ancient societies had a sense of and engaged with their own histories, be it by reusing, re-appropriating or recreating past material culture. The affective qualities of materials, places and even human remains would have enabled people to remember and connect with...Knight, Matthew G
material culture, human remains, reuse, materials, prehistoric archaeological record, recreation, and re-appropriation
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2023
Book chapter
A landscape of deposition
The Mount's Bay area has long been associated in the archaeological literature with the exchange of copper and tin. St Michael's Mount, in particular, has often been suggested to be the site of Ictis recorded by Pytheas the Greek in the 4th century BC (Hencken 1932, 158-188; Herring 2000, 116-118;...Knight, Matthew G
metalwork deposition, Bronze Age hoards, Archaeology, and exchange
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2023
Interactive resource
Chalcolithic and Bronze Age
The British Chalcolithic period is now widely recognised as beginning during the 25th century BC. It is marked by the appearance of the first metal artefacts, produced from copper and gold and the introduction of new material culture and other practices from the European Continent (Allen et al 2012; Parker...Sheridan, J A ; Knight, Matthew G
Chalcolithic, archaeological period, Early Bronze Age, Prehistoric Scotland, Late Bronze Age, Middle Bronze Age, and Research Framework
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2023
Exhibition-related event
Burying valuables and valuable burials: The Adabrock Hoard, the Aird Dell Swords and other Bronze Age metalwork from western Scotland
Comunn Eachdraidh Nis (CEN) is pleased to announce the launch of a special exhibition on the 18th April 2023. Following a year of planning between CEN and The National Museum of Scotland, locally discovered Bronze Age finds will be returning to Ness. In 1910, an eclectic hoard of objects was...Knight, Matthew G
exhibition, loans programme, Ness, Aird Dell Swords, Bronze Age finds, and Adabrock Hoard
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2023
Abstract
Fragmented metalwork hoards as a selective practice in Late Bronze Age north-western Europe
Hoards of fragmented metalwork are often seen as one of the defining practices of Late Bronze Age communities in Europe. Such hoards have attracted much attention with debates around how and why metalwork was broken and buried. Were hoards abandoned scrap? Or was there a ritual aspect? Although it is...Knight, Matthew G
Europe, communities , Hoards, Late Bronze Age , and fragmented metalwork
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2023
Lecture
Putting metalwork in its place. An analysis of the Late Bronze Age and Earliest Iron Age finds from Somerset
An analysis of the Late Bronze Age and Earliest Iron Age finds from Somerset. During the Late Bronze Age and Earliest Iron Age (c.1150-600 BC), many bronze and gold objects were buried across Europe. This lecture will explore the meanings of metalwork deposition through the evidence from Somerset and investigate...Knight, Matthew G
Bronze Age, metal dispositionb, Somerset, finds, bronze , Iron Age , and gold
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2023
Lecture
‘Some finds “of more than ordinary interest”: Exploring small socketed axeheads from northern Britain’
In 2019 a miniature bronze socketed axehead was discovered near Morebattle, Scottish Borders. These enigmatic finds are rare in northern Britain and are often considered to date anywhere from the Late Bronze Age to the Roman period. The discovery at Morebattle prompted a research project analysing unusually small socketed axeheads... -
2022
Lecture
“Piece Offerings”: the Destruction and Deposition of Metalwork in Bronze Age Britain?
The destruction and deposition of Bronze Age metalwork took many forms. Weapons were decommissioned and thrown into rivers; axes were fragmented and piled in hoards; and ornaments were crushed, contorted and placed in certain landscapes. There are many such examples from south-west Britain. But what did these practices mean to...Knight, Matthew G
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2022
Book
Fragments of the Bronze Age: the destruction and deposition of metalwork in South-West Britain and its wider context
The destruction and deposition of metalwork is a widely recognised phenomenon across Bronze Age Europe. Weapons were decommissioned and thrown into rivers; axes were fragmented and piled in hoards; and ornaments were crushed, contorted and placed in certain landscapes. Interpretation of this material is often considered in terms of whether...Knight, Matthew G
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2022
Book
Actes de colloque : Hoarding and deposition in Europe from later prehistory to the medieval period – finds in context; London (UK), 12-14 June 2019.
The paper in this volume were presented at the conference Hoarding and deposition in Europe from later prehistory to the medieval period - finds in context. The conference was held at King's College, The Strand, London from 12-14 June 2019Knight, Matthew G
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2022
Book chapter
Practices of metal deposition in Late Bronze Age Scotland
One of Eugène Warmenbol's many contributions has been to provide cross-contextual and nuanced perspectives on Bronze Age metalwork deposition in Europe. It is in this spirit that this contribution approaches metalwork from Late Bronze Age Scotland (1100-800BC), with focus on single finds, hoards and settlements. The ways in which objects...Knight, Matthew G
Scotland , settlements, hoards, Late Bronze Age , Eugène Warmenbol, finds, and metalwork deposition
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2022
Blog post
Visiting the ancient dead: Pictish reuse of a Bronze Age grave at Golspie, Highland
This blog is from a series produced as part of the AHRC funded Boundary Objects Project , a partnership between Historic Environment Scotland , National Museums Scotland and the Universities of Manchester and Reading. We often think of the graves of the dead lying undisturbed and untouched until they are...Knight, Matthew G ; Maldonado, Adrián
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2021
Journal article
A late Bronze Age carp’s-tongue sword from Swettenham, Cheshire
In 2018 five fragments of an almost complete late Bronze Age copper alloy sword were recovered during metal detecting at Swettenham, Cheshire, and subsequently reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme. This article outlines the discovery of the sword, its typological features and the nature of its fragmentation, as well as...Knight, Matthew G ; Oakden, Vanessa ; Jones, Ben ; Brandherm, Dirk
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2021
Journal article
'Early, Middle and Late Bronze Age metalwork' In: Jones, A.M. and Quinnell, H. Revisiting Battlegore: a Bronze Age barrow and its landscape context
Six copper-alloy artefacts were found in the 1860s during draining works on land to the west of the barrow cemetery, one specifically from a plot named Lake’s Meadow. Gray (1908a; 1931) documents their finding and provides illustrations. They are all described and illustrated by Pearce (1983, 540, pl. 94) and...Knight, Matthew G
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2020
Journal article
Poolewe: The last Bronze Age hoard in Scotland?
In 1877, a hoard of nine copper alloy objects was recovered from a peat bog at Poolewe, Scotland, including axeheads, rings and an ornament. For the first time since its discovery, this article publishes the hoard in its entirety, including an assessment of typological features, full illustration and metallurgical analysis....Knight, Matthew G ; Boughton, Dot ; Northover, J Peter
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2020
Journal article
There's method in the fragments: a damage ranking system for Bronze Age metalwork
Broken and damaged Bronze Age metalwork has long been studied, but there is no methodology for identifying signs of intentional versus unintentional action. Past approaches have tended to rely on assumptions about how such finds were damaged. Drawing on the material properties of copper alloys, as well as on recent...Knight, Matthew G
fragmentation , destruction , damage , metalwork, and Bronze Age
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2020
Video
Fragments of the Bronze Age
Dr Matt Knight FSAScot, Curator of Prehistory at National Museums Scotland presents “Fragments of the Bronze Age. The destruction and deposition of metalwork in Britain.”, an account of research on the remains of bronze age metal objects, commonly retrieved as hoards. With thanks to Society Fellow Sir Angus Grossart QC...Knight, Matthew G
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2020
Journal article
Gold in Britain’s auriferous regions, 2450–800 BC
Incorruptible and brilliant, and shining like the sun, gold has always attracted attention. From its earliest known use at Varna around 4500 BC, this metal has been utilised to make some of the finest objects humans have ever possessed. Gold use, and the know-how to work it, arrived in Britain...Knight, Matthew G ; Sheridan, J A ; Horak, Jana
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2020
Book chapter
The dagger
In the 22nd century cal BC (Figure 4.33 First Dig: Cist 2205–2130 cal BC (68% probability)) a dramatic alteration of the Henge 1 interior occurred. A large pit was dug into the partially filled henge ditch in the southern interior of the enclosure within a fewmetres of where the cremation...Sheridan, J A ; Cameron, Esther ; O'Connor, Sonia ; Greaves, Pieta ; Northover, Peter …
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2017
Journal article
The deliberate destruction of Late Bronze Age socketed axeheads in Cornwall
The deliberate destruction of socketed axeheads is a common feature among Late Bronze Age finds. It is particularly noticeable in the numerous single finds and hoards that have been recovered from Cornwall recently. Interpretations have tended to focus on why these objects were damaged, with little understanding of how this...Knight, Matthew G
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Journal article
Prehistoric Crafts and Identities. Special swords, glittering gold and pots for the people
Next month, National Museums Scotland will be hosting the annual Later Prehistoric Finds Group conference, this year entitled: Crafting Identities.Knight, Matthew G
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Journal article
The Spearhead of the Pennon
In 1999, the late Professor Charles Thomas donated a Middle Bronze Age spearhead to the National Museum collection. This spearhead came with a label indicating that it was part of the pennant taken into the Battle of Flodden by Robert Chisholme in 1513. This paper investigates the likelihood that such...Knight, Matthew G ; Cowie, Trevor
Spearhead, Heirloom, Battle of Flodden, Bronze Age, and Chisholme
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Journal article
Two recent Bronze Age finds in Torquay Museum and their place in South West England
Two pieces of Bronze Age metalwork have recently ben acquired by Torquay Museum: an Early Bronze Age axe and a Middle Bronze Age rapier. Both were found in the Broadsands area, Paignton. The form, function and a rol.e of the objects are analysed, and the landscape context in which they...Knight, Matthew G ; Chandler, Barry
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Journal article
Going to pieces: investigating the deliberate destruction of Late Bronze Age swords and spearheads
The deliberate destruction of Late Bronze Age swords and spearheads has been widely recognised across Europe. This observation has typically relied on the obvious nature of the destruction, such as the bending of blades or the crushing of sockets, and the association of multiple broken pieces. These obvious acts have...Knight, Matthew G
Bronze Age metalwork, spearheads, experimental archaeology, Fragmentation, and swords
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Journal article
The Spearhead of the Pennon …
In 1999, the late Professor Charles Thomas donated a Middle Bronze Age spearhead to the National Museum collection. This spearhead came with a label indicating that it was part of the pennant taken into the Battle of Flodden by Robert Chisholme in 1513. This paper investigates the likelihood that such...Knight, Matthew G ; Sheridan, J A
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Book
Objects of the past in the past: investigating the significance of earlier artefacts in later contexts
How did past communities view, understand and communicate their pasts? And how can we, as archaeologists, understand this? In recent years these questions have been approached through studies of the extended occupation and use of landscapes, monuments and artefacts to explore concepts of time and memory. But what of objects...Knight, Matthew G ; Boughton, Dot ; Wilkinson, Rachel E
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Book chapter
Objects of the past in the past in the past
How did past communities view, understand and communicate their pasts? And how can we, as archaeologists, understand this? In recent years these questions have been approached through studies of the extended occupation and use of landscapes, monuments and artefacts to explore concepts of time and memory. But what of objects...Knight, Matthew G ; Boughton, Dot ; Wilkinson, Rachel E
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Book chapter
Doughtful associations? Assessing Bronze Age 'multi-period' hoards from northern England, Scotland and Wales
How did past communities view, understand and communicate their pasts? And how can we, as archaeologists, understand this? In recent years these questions have been approached through studies of the extended occupation and use of landscapes, monuments and artefacts to explore concepts of time and memory. But what of objects...Knight, Matthew G
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Book chapter
Grande-Bretagne et Irlande
Knight, Matthew G
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Abstract
Revisiting the fragmentation revolution
Fragments are commonly encountered in the archaeological record. Historically, broken things have been considered scrap or rubbish resulting from accidental processes. However, during recent decades archaeologists have come to recognise acts of deliberate fragmentation, and fragments themselves, as performing a range of important roles in the past. A key moment...Knight, Matthew G ; Chittock, Helen
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Journal article
A Late Bronze Age Gold Lock-ring from Chirnside
In 2019 a decorated gold penannular ring was found during metal-detecting at Chirnside in the Scottish Borders. This type of ring, typically refereed to as a 'lock-ring', dates to the Late Bronze Age (c/1150-800 BC).Knight, Matthew G
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Conference paper (unpublished)
Gold rings, miniature axes and other Bronze Age metalwork finds from Dumfries and Galloway
Knight, Matthew G
Bronze Age , Dumfries and Galloway, finds, metalwork , and metal deposition
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Lecture
The Peebles Hoard: A Late Bronze Age discovery from the Scottish Borders
In June 2020, a metal detectorist found several peculiar bronze fittings near Peebles in the Scottish Borders. Subsequent excavation by the Treasure Trove Unit and National Museums Scotland revealed these to be part of a substantial Late Bronze Age hoard comprising unique bronze fittings and equipment with surviving organic material,...Freeman, Emily ; Knight, Matthew G
scabbard, metal detecting , bronze fittings , Late Brown Age, organic material, Treasure Trove, Peebles Hoard, and sword