Fragments of the Bronze Age: The Destruction and Deposition of Metalwork in South-West Britain and Its Wider Context (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781789256970)

The destruction and deposition of metalwork is a widely recognized 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 such acts should be considered ritual offerings, or functional acts for storing, scrapping and recycling the metal. This book approaches this debate from a fresh perspective, by focusing on how the metalwork was destroyed and deposited as a means to understand the reasons behind the process.

To achieve this, this study draws on experimental archaeology, as well as developing a framework for assessing what can be considered deliberate destruction. Understanding these processes not only helps us to recognize how destruction happened, but also gives us insights into the individuals involved in these practices. Through an examination of metalwork from south-west Britain, it is possible to observe the complexities involved at a localized level in the acts of destruction and deposition, as well as how they were linked to people and places. This case study is used to consider the social role of destruction and deposition more broadly in the Bronze Age, highlighting how it transformed over time and space.

Author: Matthew G. Knight
ISBN-10: 1789256976
ISBN-13: 9781789256970
Publisher: Oxbow Books Limited
Language: English
Published: 02/03/2022
Pages: 200
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 2.15lbs
Size: 10.94h x 8.58w x 0.79d