Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age goldwork from Britain: new finds and new perspectives
Resource type
Book chapter
Creator (person)
Needham, Stuart
Sheridan, J A
Date published
October 10, 2014
Abstract
British Early Bronze Age gold has traditionally been dominated by the splendid antiquarian finds from Wessex. This dominance is illusory, based on historically benevolent conditions of survival and preferential recovery through antiquarian barrow digging. Recent decades have seen the steady rise of a range of Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age gold artefacts from a wide geographical spread; meanwhile, new finds within Wessex have been at an all time low, the Amesbury Archer and his Companion being exceptions. Our paper will draw attention to selected new finds and the significant re-dating of others to illustrate crucial changes in perspective on the distribution and modes of utilisation of gold during the period. We will also point to important compositional changes that question the past assumption that all early gold originated in Ireland. Further questions will be asked of the value of defining a ‘Wessex’ goldworking tradition.
Series name
Tagungen des Landesmuseums
Book title
Metalle der Macht - Frà¼hes Gold und Silber = Metals of power - Early gold and silversilver: 6. Mitteldeutscher Archà¤ologentag 6. Mitteldeutscher Archà¤ologentag vom 17. bis 19. Oktober 2013 in Halle (Saale)
Editor
Meller, Harald
Risch, Robert
Pernicka, Ernst
Issue
11
Publisher
Landesamt f. Denkmalpflege u. Archà¤ologie Sachsen-Anhalt
Place of publication
Halle, Germany
Additional information
Papers from the 6th Archaeological Conference of Central Germany October 17–19, 2013 in Halle (Saale).