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#61
Ancient and Medieval History / Anglo Saxon Woden Ring to go o...
Last post by Imperial Dave - Apr 15, 2026, 05:25 PMhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx24p715gqro
Ill admit when I first saw the headline I had subconsciously added another o
Ill admit when I first saw the headline I had subconsciously added another o
#62
Weapons and Tactics / Re: A sword or dagger
Last post by Ian61 - Apr 14, 2026, 09:38 PMIsn't that a wonderful description, standards of clarity in English have slipped. 
I do chuckle though, that even over a hundred years ago there was a need to ascribe a local uniqueness to objects. Objects always seem to be described in some way to make it clear the the locals that this is something they need to take notice of with a phrase like 'only one of its type found in #######' or equivalent. It always makes me think 'yes but they found a shed load exactly the same at @@@@@@@ a few miles away', what a cynic I am.
I do chuckle though, that even over a hundred years ago there was a need to ascribe a local uniqueness to objects. Objects always seem to be described in some way to make it clear the the locals that this is something they need to take notice of with a phrase like 'only one of its type found in #######' or equivalent. It always makes me think 'yes but they found a shed load exactly the same at @@@@@@@ a few miles away', what a cynic I am.
#63
Weapons and Tactics / A sword or dagger
Last post by Jim Webster - Apr 14, 2026, 09:01 PMOnce upon a time, when I was a kid, I was told that a sword had been found on our land, and actually I saw it once. I cannot remember now whether it was in Lancaster or Preston Museums.
Anyway I had ten minutes and did a google search and found this. (There is no link from this farm to the spear head)
Art. III.—Bronze Age Relics from Furness. By H. S.
Cowper, F.S.A.
Read at Penrith, September 13th, 1906.
TRANSACTIONS
OF THE
CUMBERLAND & WESTMORLAND
ANTIQUARIAN & ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SOCIETY.
(FOUNDED 1866.)
VOLUME VII.—NEW SERIES.
THE objects described, I obtained last year at the sale of the collection of local and other curiosities formed by the late Mr. William Hodgson, cabinet maker, of Buxton Place, Ulverston, in whose possession I had known them a considerable time. Since there is fair ground for believing all three to be local finds, they merit record in our pages. The bronze dagger, shewn in Fig. i, was found many years ago at Page Bank near Rampside, Aldingham, though no account appears to have been preserved as to the circumstances in which it was found. It is 14 inches long, the greatest width (near the rivet holes) is 2 inches, and at six inches from the point 1 inches. There are two rivet-holes for attaching the handle, and one of the rivets was still in its place until about the time of the sale, when it was lost: and from four to five inches from this end there are, on both cutting edges, some ancient notches, probably made by blows against the edge of another blade in combat. The dagger is similar in type to Fig. 315 of Evans' Ancient Bronze Implements (1881), and is, I believe, the only example of this class hitherto found in Furness. Fig. 2 is a fine bronze spear-head, measuring 10 inches in length, and 3 inches in its greatest width. The general shape can be seen from the illustration, a notice able feature being that the midrib, which is continued to the point, is brought to a sharp ridge, so that at the section it is nearly square. On either side of the midrib is a depression or hollow. The cavity for the shaft is 5 inches long ; the edges are jagged from wear and use in ancient times, and the loops are at the base of the blade and connecting it with the socket. This fine spear-head has been much cleaned. Mr. Hodgson, whose information was generally very reliable, assured me it was a local find. In general shape it may be compared with the example from Dalton Castle, figured in our Transactions, N.S., vol. v., p. 183, also in my possession, which, however, is much smaller ; also with Fig. 407 in Evans' work, from Norfolk ; and the Scottish example in the Catalogue of the Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (1892, D.G. 40, p. 139).
I'm not sure of a date but 'old' probably sums it up
You cannot view this attachment.
Anyway I had ten minutes and did a google search and found this. (There is no link from this farm to the spear head)
Art. III.—Bronze Age Relics from Furness. By H. S.
Cowper, F.S.A.
Read at Penrith, September 13th, 1906.
TRANSACTIONS
OF THE
CUMBERLAND & WESTMORLAND
ANTIQUARIAN & ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SOCIETY.
(FOUNDED 1866.)
VOLUME VII.—NEW SERIES.
THE objects described, I obtained last year at the sale of the collection of local and other curiosities formed by the late Mr. William Hodgson, cabinet maker, of Buxton Place, Ulverston, in whose possession I had known them a considerable time. Since there is fair ground for believing all three to be local finds, they merit record in our pages. The bronze dagger, shewn in Fig. i, was found many years ago at Page Bank near Rampside, Aldingham, though no account appears to have been preserved as to the circumstances in which it was found. It is 14 inches long, the greatest width (near the rivet holes) is 2 inches, and at six inches from the point 1 inches. There are two rivet-holes for attaching the handle, and one of the rivets was still in its place until about the time of the sale, when it was lost: and from four to five inches from this end there are, on both cutting edges, some ancient notches, probably made by blows against the edge of another blade in combat. The dagger is similar in type to Fig. 315 of Evans' Ancient Bronze Implements (1881), and is, I believe, the only example of this class hitherto found in Furness. Fig. 2 is a fine bronze spear-head, measuring 10 inches in length, and 3 inches in its greatest width. The general shape can be seen from the illustration, a notice able feature being that the midrib, which is continued to the point, is brought to a sharp ridge, so that at the section it is nearly square. On either side of the midrib is a depression or hollow. The cavity for the shaft is 5 inches long ; the edges are jagged from wear and use in ancient times, and the loops are at the base of the blade and connecting it with the socket. This fine spear-head has been much cleaned. Mr. Hodgson, whose information was generally very reliable, assured me it was a local find. In general shape it may be compared with the example from Dalton Castle, figured in our Transactions, N.S., vol. v., p. 183, also in my possession, which, however, is much smaller ; also with Fig. 407 in Evans' work, from Norfolk ; and the Scottish example in the Catalogue of the Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (1892, D.G. 40, p. 139).
I'm not sure of a date but 'old' probably sums it up
You cannot view this attachment.
#64
Shows & Events / Re: SOA wins best participatio...
Last post by Erpingham - Apr 14, 2026, 05:37 PMMore kudos to the team at Salute, as the first member they signed up to the Society has already joined the forum (see introductions section for more details).
#65
Shows & Events / Re: SOA wins best participatio...
Last post by Imperial Dave - Apr 14, 2026, 05:06 PMYes it was really good to get the plug in and get it in well
#66
Shows & Events / Re: SOA wins best participatio...
Last post by kodiakblair - Apr 13, 2026, 10:09 PMQuote from: RichT on Apr 13, 2026, 02:27 PMThere's an informative interview from the show with MarkIn the time allowed I think that is very good interview.
Rules, figures, extras get a mention then the lad holding the mic asks the important question
"Can folk easily join SOA and can they do so online"
Mark answer and covers the main points Slingshot, research vs gaming etc.
I'd have been flustered and made a right hash of things but kudos to Mark for his composure
#67
Shows & Events / Re: SOA wins best participatio...
Last post by Imperial Dave - Apr 13, 2026, 05:36 PMFab work and great advert for the society
#68
Shows & Events / Re: SOA wins best participatio...
Last post by RichT - Apr 13, 2026, 02:27 PMThere's an informative interview from the show with Mark (I assume he also has a surname but I don't know what it is!) here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2bPUlo6FGg
(A few seconds in from where this clip starts). All good SoA publicity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2bPUlo6FGg
(A few seconds in from where this clip starts). All good SoA publicity.
#69
Army Research / Re: Parhae
Last post by Duncan Head - Apr 13, 2026, 10:42 AMNo plans from me, I'm afraid - especially as I don't currently intend to spend €98 on the first item in the list!
#70
Shows & Events / Re: SOA wins best participatio...
Last post by Dave Knight - Apr 13, 2026, 10:08 AMQuote from: lionheartrjc on Apr 13, 2026, 07:34 AMPossibly because we have other lives that we have to get on with. Remember we are volunteers. Frankly I am getting p***ed off at the implied criticism from members on this forum. Perhaps they would like to volunteer? I have been Membership Secretary and then Treasurer since January 1997. Quite happy for someone else to take over if they wish to.
Why are you pissed off? I was very clear with my congratulations both before and after the comment you highlighted. I did my best to make what I believe is a valid point without implying any criticism of those, like yourself, doing great work for the Society.
Not everybody is in the loop with what goes on at Salute. In fact I would think that only a small minority of members are. I honestly don't think that it would be very hard for somebody in the know (not necessarily those running the game) to put up a simple post saying something like " The SoA is putting on a participation game at Salute on (whenever it was). If you are going support the guys - they do a great job every year"
Perhaps there are many other SoA games at shows that I don't know about - that would be a shame. We have a great medium of communication in this forum lets use it to its full advantage