Cowie, Trevor and Hall, Mark A (2010) A new look at the Late Bronze Age metalwork from the Tay. In: Carpow in context: A Late Bronze Age logboat from the Tay. Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Edinburgh, pp.151-162 9780903903257. http://repository.nms.ac.uk/231 Deposited on: 17 October 2014 NMS Repository – Research publications by staff of the National Museums Scotland http://repository.nms.ac.uk/ A NEW LOOK AT THE LATE BRONZE AGE METALWORK FROM THE TAY Chapter 12 A new look at the Late Bronze Age metalwork from the Tay TREVOR COWIE and MARK HALL 12.1 Introduction In the particular case of the Bronze Age metalwork, the limited number of finds from the Tay is compounded This review of the predominantly Late Bronze Age by the sparseness of the information relating to their metalwork from the River Tay presents a range of circumstances of discovery. While this means that the material that helps to contextualise the broader use of Tay has a much weaker archaeological signature than the river. Reference is made to earlier and later objects more productive rivers, and the extent and nature found in the Tay to try and gain a fuller understanding of the activities that led to the loss or deposition of of the dynamics of deposition in, and recovery from, those artefacts is correspondingly more elusive, some the river. While the amount of material from the river patterns can nevertheless be teased out. is very small in comparison with the large quantities Although our main focus is on the Bronze Age from the Thames or the Trent, the Tay nevertheless material, some consideration is also given to the material ranks among the more archaeologically productive of other periods that has been recovered from the river, rivers in Britain and is the only significant source of for the waters of the Tay have received and given up river finds in Scotland (Coombs 1996, 102, figs 1–2; a diverse range of artefacts ranging from a Neolithic Cowie and Hall 2001). stone axe to a post-medieval seal matrix. Although this Figure 162 The lower Tay showing the range of Bronze Age metalwork recovered from the river 151 CARPOW IN CONTEXT: A LATE BRONZE AGE LOGBOAT FROM THE TAY is not the place for a definitive catalogue, comparison of the character and circumstances of discovery of these finds may indirectly aid understanding of how and why material came to be deposited in or recovered from the river at certain points. The review of the finds of Late Bronze Age metalwork from the River Tay also provides a starting point for a brief survey of contemporary artefacts from the wider Tayside and Fife region, highlighting variation in their treatment and context, the evidence they provide for the region’s national and international connections, and finally the sideways light they shed on craftsmanship. Our focus of interest is mainly on the lower Tay, extending from around the bend of the Tay at Delvine, to the north of Perth, downriver to approximately Ballinbreich to the east of Newburgh. Figure 163 It is therefore a stretch that neatly embraces Carpow The Middle Bronze Age dirk from the Tay at Friarton Bank (Fig 162). (photo: PMAG; drawing © NMS by Marion O’Neil) 12.2 Middle Bronze Age metalwork from the Tay In August 2008 Mr Ian Robertson of Perth brought dark brown patina in keeping with recovery from a into Perth Museum a very fine example of a Middle benign watery environment. Bronze Age bronze dirk, which he had found in the Allowing for the finder’s uncertainty as regards river some 10 or 12 years earlier while scuba diving the condition of the weapon when found, the near Friarton (O’Connor et al forthcoming). The dirk circumstantial evidence suggests that the weapon had (Fig 163) has a low trapezoidal butt, with somewhat suffered some damage in antiquity but was intact at the rounded rather than angular shoulders and a fairly time of deposition. At the time of writing, the dirk is straight heel. It has had two rivet-holes; one still has in the care of Perth Museum and Art Gallery pending a plug-rivet with domed heads in place, although the a decision on ownership by the Receiver of Wreck. finder’s account suggests that the other rivet may still The Friarton dirk is a type characterised by have been present when the blade was first discovered. the presence of complex ornament bordering the The outer rim of the damaged rivet-hole is now pronounced, rounded midrib, with a date range from missing and there appear to be signs of both ancient the late 16th to the 15th century cal bc. Such weapons and more recent damage. The blade has an elegant are rare in Scotland and most common in Ireland, ogival outline with a central rib, broad at the butt-end but it is closely paralleled by another local find from and becoming more rounded and pronounced as it Pitkeathly, near Bridge of Earn (Burgess & Gerloff tapers towards the tip of the blade. The upper portion 1981, 8–9, no 18). Indeed, metal analysis seems to of the midrib is bordered by incised grooves which confirm its Irish origin (unpublished information converge on the midrib approximately three-quarters from Dr Peter Northover). The find circumstances down the length of the blade. On one face just below of the Friarton dirk are in keeping with the pattern the butt end of the midrib, there are worn traces of two of recovery of the majority of dirks and rapiers from incised pendant triangles, probably originally forming watery contexts such as rivers, lakes, bogs and fens. a transverse band all the way across. The blade has In our present context, it has added significance since a number of nicks and notches, some of them with it marks the earliest item of Bronze Age metalwork the appearance of ancient damage. Otherwise the dirk from the Tay discovered in circumstances suggestive is overall in excellent condition. A small area of the of deliberate deposition. lower blade has been cleaned to reveal the underlying The only other item of Middle Bronze Age date golden metal but otherwise the dirk has an even glossy from the river is a side-looped spearhead, recovered 152 A NEW LOOK AT THE LATE BRONZE AGE METALWORK FROM THE TAY through metal-detecting at low tide on the foreshore For convenience these will be grouped by types, at Newburgh in 1997 (Laing Museum, Newburgh; beginning with the swords, and discussed in terms of unpublished). The worn and damaged condition of the circumstances of recovery where known, typology, this example may be more in keeping with the loss or date and condition. discard of an artefact near the end of its functional life rather than votive deposition (although a combination Swords of these factors cannot be ruled out). It may be noted Five, or just possibly six, bronze swords have been that very few items of archaeological significance of recovered from the Tay. All are 19th-century ad finds, any period have been recovered despite reasonably and in the four instances where fuller details are known, active metal detecting along the foreshore. the findspots lie between Perth and Newburgh. The significance of this will be discussed further below. In terms of Late Bronze Age chronology, the 12.3 Late Bronze Age metalwork from the Tay earliest of the swords from the Tay is the superb In the context of this volume, our focus is naturally specimen found in 1889 to the north of Mugdrum concentrated on the later Bronze Age metalwork. Island, near Newburgh on Reekit Lady sandbank (Fig Figure 164a–f Late Bronze Age swords from the river: (a–b) Mugdrum/Newburgh; (c–d) Elcho/Rhynd; (e) ‘the Tay near Perth’; and (f ) an unprovenanced sword formerly alleged to be from the Tay opposite Elcho (line drawings after Colquhoun & Burgess 1988) 153 CARPOW IN CONTEXT: A LATE BRONZE AGE LOGBOAT FROM THE TAY 164a). Probably dating to c 11th century bc, the sword The sword in question belongs to the Ewart Park represents a variant form of the so-called Limehouse type, the classic Late Bronze Age leaf-shaped sword type of sword, itself a regional or insular form of flange- (Colquhoun & Burgess 1988, 55–68). Despite the hilted sword of continental type (Erbenheim swords) modifications to the weapon, the sword has clearly been (Colquhoun & Burgess 1988, 33–6, no 113). Although complete at the time of deposition. It is unfortunate that none of the rivets which would have held the organic the provenance of the sword is in some doubt, because hilt plates in place remain in situ, the sword is generally despite being numerically the most common type of intact and in excellent condition, suggesting loss or Late Bronze Age sword from Scotland, this is the only deliberate deposition of a fully serviceable sword. sword from the river of Ewart Park type. However, in Also dating from the earlier part of the Late Bronze view of the relatively small overall numbers of finds Age (Wilburton phase 11th/10th centuries bc, is from the river, and the recovery of such swords from the fine Wilburton type sword (ibid, 51–2, no 226) other wet locations such as bogs and lochs, it would be recovered from the river at Seggieden, which is on the unwise to read too much significance into this. north bank opposite Elcho (Fig 164c). It was found by Instead, numerically the most common swords the fishermen of Darry Island and was presented to the from the river are the three examples of Gündlingen Perth Literary and Antiquarian Society in November type, dating from the Llyn Fawr phase, marking the 1854.