In the heart of London, just steps away from the iconic River Thames, a team of archaeologists recently made a discovery that has captivated historians and the public alike. Last September, in the borough of Havering, they unearthed an “extraordinary” hoard of Bronze Age weapons and tools, dating back over 1,000 years.
This remarkable find, now known as the Havering hoard, consists of more than 450 objects, making it the largest of its kind ever discovered in the capital and the third largest in the entire United Kingdom. The sheer scale and significance of the hoard have left experts buzzing with excitement, as they seek to unravel the mysteries surrounding this incredible glimpse into Britain’s ancient past.
The Mystery of the Broken Weapons
What makes the Havering hoard so intriguing is not just its sheer size, but the mysterious condition of the objects themselves. When the archaeologists began to carefully excavate the site, they were stunned to find that the majority of the weapons and tools within the hoard had been deliberately damaged or broken before being placed in the ground.
Over 450 Bronze Age objects, including swords, daggers, axes, and spearheads, were discovered buried together in carefully arranged groups. Yet to the archaeologists’ surprise, almost all of these valuable items showed clear signs of intentional breakage or mutilation. Fragments of blades, shattered axe heads, and twisted metal fragments were the norm, rather than complete, intact artifacts.
This puzzling observation has sparked a flurry of speculation and theories among historians and experts. Why would these people, living over 1,000 years ago, go to the effort of carefully breaking their valuable bronze weapons and tools before burying them? Was this a ritual act, a practical necessity, or something else entirely?
Some researchers think the hoard may have belonged to a specialist metalworker, with the broken items representing a sort of “scrapyard” or recycling bank of raw materials. Others propose that the hoard was a religious offering, with the deliberate damage done to the objects as part of a sacred rite or ceremony.
Uncovering the Secrets at the Museum of London Docklands
As archaeologists continue to study the Havering hoard, plans are underway for a major exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands, set to open in April 2024. This highly anticipated display will offer the public a rare and fascinating opportunity to explore the intriguing secrets of this extraordinary discovery, shedding new light on the lives and practices of our Bronze Age ancestors.
“We’re thrilled to be able to display this momentous discovery for the first time,” said Roy Stephenson, the historic environment lead at the Museum of London Docklands. “It’s incredibly rare to have uncovered a hoard of this size on one site. This discovery is of huge importance and raises questions as to why this treasure was buried in this way and why it was never recovered?”
Collaboration and Significance
The rare find was the result of a partnership between archaeologists from Historic England and Archaeological Solutions, working in collaboration with developers from Ingrebourne Valley Ltd, who are responsible for major land reclamation projects in the area. “The setting of many hoards is often unclear, but these were deliberately placed and aligned within a late Bronze Age enclosure so that we could excavate them in their entirety,” explained Andrew Peachey, a prehistoric specialist from Archaeological Solutions.
The discovery of the Havering hoard not only adds immensely to our understanding of Bronze Age life in Britain but also underscores the vital importance of planned archaeological assessments and excavations, particularly in areas targeted for new development.
The upcoming exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands, titled “The Havering Hoard: A Bronze Age Mystery,” will offer the public a rare and fascinating opportunity to explore this captivating chapter of the past, shedding light on the intriguing and often enigmatic lives of our Bronze Age ancestors.
