A metal detectorist in Cornwall made an incredible find, discovering a Bronze Age hoard of axe heads that could change our understanding of the past.
Cornwall: A metal detectorist named Ken Livingstone made a remarkable discovery. While detecting in a field, he found a hoard of Bronze Age axe heads. This was no ordinary find; it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
Ken was out with his friend Jan Joplin when they stumbled upon six metal objects. They thought there might be more, so they returned a month later. Sure enough, they found even more axe heads buried about 10 inches deep.
During a treasure inquest in Truro, it was revealed that the hoard included three complete axe heads, a broken one, and some fragments. There was also an awl, which is a tool used for making holes in leather. Some believe it might have even been used for tattooing.
Ken shared that this was the most exciting thing he had found in five years of metal detecting. He said, “You can go through your entire life as a metal detectorist and not find anything like this.”
The first six axe heads were reported right away, and the rest followed soon after. Tasha Brooks, a curator, explained that the hoard is called a ‘scattered hoard.’ It seems the items were buried together but disturbed over time.
In total, there are seven palstaves, all made of copper alloy and dating back to the Middle Bronze Age. One of the axe heads was dated between 1600 and 1450 BC. It had a unique shape and weighed 342 grams.
Some smaller items were likely woodworking tools. Laura Miucci, the finds liaison officer, noted that the broken axe head was not originally buried that way. Most of the items had a reddish-brown patina from being in iron-rich soil for thousands of years.
Guy Davies, the assistant coroner, confirmed that the hoard qualifies as treasure due to its age and the number of items found. The Bude Museum is interested in acquiring it. In Cornwall, treasures belong to the Duchy of Cornwall unless claimed otherwise.
