| New Prehistoric Archaeology Objects
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| Warwickshire Museum has recently acquired these objects for the county's archaeological collections. Some were donated by finders and owners, others were acquired with the help of grants and visitors' donations. They are some of the most important objects found in recent times in Warwickshire. |
Miniature Shield
This shield stands only 10cm high. It is believed to be an exact copy in miniature of the shields used by Iron Age 'Celtic' warriors in this part of the Midlands over 2000 years ago. The decoration is made up of incised lines and punched dots around the edge and the boss in the centre. The shape of the shield and the style of decoration is very similar to the Battersea Shield in the British Museum...
A shield like this may have been used for rituals or ceremonies to do with warfare. It is one of several new finds in Warwickshire from the Iron Age which show us that people of high status lived here. This adds to the evidence we have for farming communities like that discovered at Wasperton.
The shield was found near Alcester and was acquired for Warwickshire Museum's collections with the assistance of the V & A Purcahse Grant Fund.
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Bronze Razor
Even further away in time, during the Bronze Age, we now have evidence of people taking care of their appearance. This leaf-shaped bronze razor was found near Bidford on Avon and is one of only a few of this type of Bronze Age razor to be found in this country.
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Loomweight
We don't know much about what people wore in Prehistoric times. Materials like wool, cloth and leather very rarely survive. Objects like brooches, buckles and buttons can give us clues, but loomweights like this one tell us that Bronze Age people were weaving cloth. This example was found near Brailes.
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Arrowhead
Even further back in time this object dates from the Neolithic period and is an arrowhead, but not the usual type with a pointed end. The wedge-shaped blade (top of picture) of this hunting weapon would have been the widest part and would fell an animal very quickly, saving the hunters valuable energy chasing after wounded prey.
This find is the first to be recorded in Warwickshire and was found near Wolston. | |
Other New Archaeology Objects.
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