Find Spot record MAB47947 - PYOTDYKES FARM
Please read our guidance about the use of Aberdeenshire Historic Environment Record data.
Summary
A Late Bronze Age Hoard, found at this approximate location.
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NO 3454 3480 (40m by 40m) Location only - Point |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NO33SW |
| Civil Parish | Liff & Benvie |
| Authority | Angus |
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
A Late Bronze Age Hoard, found at this approximate location. A small hoard of two Late Bronze Age leaf-shaped swords and a Middle Bronze Age socketed spearhead was ploughed up in the 'Old Road Field', Pyotdykes Farm in October 1963, probably by the son of the tenant-farmer. One of the swords was encased in the remains of a wooden and leather scabbard, thought to be a find unique in the British Isles (at that time). The scabbard remains were of two pieces, one 65 mm x 26 mm, the second 66 mm x 35 mm. It was made of three layers: a wooden layer, possibly hazel, between two layers of leather. The spearhead was a Coles 'Class E' with a socket decorated with punched bands and chevrons inlaid with hammered gold, the only specimen of its kind known in Scotland, (until a similar find in Carnoustie in 2017, NO53NE0149). The tip is missing, it has a triangular blade with basal loops, gold band around socket mouth, rivet holes on the socket and a length 40 cm. A cloth plug of flax fibres, 38 mm x circa 19 mm was found in the socket, a rare find of Bronze Age textiles. The swords are of the Ewart Park type - Northern unclassified, Burgess and Colquhoun's 521 and 536. One sword has the top of its hilt missing, a length 59.2 cm, shoulder width 5 cm, maximum blade width 4.15 cm, with a smooth green patina, lighter around the ricasso, showing an outline of an organic handle clearly. The edge is badly corroded, rivets 3:6, three in situ, others broken off. The second sword has a length 55.2 cm, shoulder width 5.05 cm, maximum blade width 3.8 cm, with a smooth dark green patina getting lighter towards the ricasso. The outline of the hilt plates show up as darker green, with the blade edge badly corroded, with rivets 1 (possibly more):2, none in situ. The swords and spearhead are in the McManus Museum, Dundee. Comparable with the hoard found in Carnoustie in 2017 (NO53NE0149).
COLES, J.M., 1964, A LBA FIND FROM PYOTDYKES, ANGUS, WITH ASSOCIATED GOLD, CLOTH, LEATHER AND WOOD REMAINS. IN: PPS 30, (1964) PP. 186-198, pp. 186-198 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6953.
COLES, J.M., 1964, SCOTTISH MIDDLE BRONZE AGE METALWORK. PSAS 97, p.141, 150 (Bibliographic reference). SAB235.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ANG;
- NMR Card Number: NO33SW4;
- NRHE Numlink: 32031;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NO33SW0004;
External Links (1)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/32031 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (2)
- --- SAB235 Bibliographic reference: COLES, J.M.. 1964. SCOTTISH MIDDLE BRONZE AGE METALWORK. PSAS 97. N. p.141, 150.
- --- SAB6953 Bibliographic reference: COLES, J.M.. 1964. A LBA FIND FROM PYOTDYKES, ANGUS, WITH ASSOCIATED GOLD, CLOTH, LEATHER AND WOOD REMAINS. IN: PPS 30, (1964) PP. 186-198. Y. pp. 186-198.
Finds (6)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Aug 18 2022 12:49PM
