Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T01:38:24.633Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Anvils of Bronze Age Europe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2011

Summary

About three dozen bronze anvils are known from Bronze Age Europe. They are small in size, probably indicating that they were used for delicate work. Simple, Beaked and Complex forms are distinguished, based on the presence of special features such as work surfaces, beaks, swages and punching holes, which were used in various processes of manufacture and decoration of small bronze and gold artefacts. The anvils are widely distributed throughout north-west Europe, and dated examples belong to the later Middle and Late Bronze Age (c. 1200–700 B.C.). Thirty-six anvils are catalogued and briefly described.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1981

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Armand-Calliat, L., 1952. ‘Documents sur la métallurgie en Chalonnais à l'Age du Bronze et à l'époque des Champs d'Urnes’, Revue Archaeol. de l'Est et du Centre-est, iii, 90103.Google Scholar
Beauchêne, G. De, 1961. ‘Enclume, poignards et épées de l'Age du Bronze’. Objets et Mondes, Musée d'Hist. Nat. La Revue du Musée de l'Homme 1, 1, 5861.Google Scholar
Bocquet, A., 1969. ‘L'Isère préhistorique et protohistorique’, Gallia Préhistoire, xii, 121–58 and 273–400.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bonnamour, L., 1969. L'Age du Bronze au Musée de Chalon.Google Scholar
Briard, J., 1965. Les Depôts Bretons et l'Age du Bronze Atlantique.Google Scholar
Museum, British, 1920. Bronze Age Guide.Google Scholar
Broholm, H., 1953. Danske Oldsager, IV. Yngre Bronzalder.Google Scholar
Chantre, E., 1875. ‘Etudes paléoethnologiques dans le bassin du Rhône’, Age du Bronze, i.Google Scholar
Childe, V. G., 1945‘6. ‘A bronze worker's anvil and other tools recently acquired by Inverness Museum, with a note on another Scottish anvil’, Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. lxx, 811.Google Scholar
Coffey, G., 1913. The Bronze Age in Ireland.Google Scholar
Coles, J., 1963–4. ‘Scottish Middle Bronze Age metalwork’, Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. xcviii, 82156.Google Scholar
Coutil, L., 1912. ‘Enclumes de l'Age du Bronze’, L'Homme Préhistorique, x, 97103 and 181–5.Google Scholar
Curwen, E. C., 1954. The Archaeology of Sussex.Google Scholar
Dechelette, J., 1910. Manuel d'Archéologie Préhistorique, Celtique et Gallo-Romaine, ii.Google Scholar
Dobson, D. P., 1931. The Archaeology of Somerset.Google Scholar
Eogan, G., 1964. ‘The Later Bronze Age in Ireland,’ Proc. Prehist. Soc. xxx, 268352.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eogan, G., 1967. ‘Associated finds of gold bar tores’, J. Roy. Soc. Antiq. Ireland, xcvii, 129–75.Google Scholar
Evans, J., 1881. The Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Ireland.Google Scholar
Gaucher, G. & Mohen, J-P., 1974. L'Age du Bronze dans le Nord de la France.Google Scholar
Gross, V., 1883. Les Protohelvetes.Google Scholar
Jones, S. J., 1931. ‘Note on an anvil and a palstave found at Flax Bourton, Somerset’, Proc. Bristol Univ. Spelaeol. Soc. iv, 43–4.Google Scholar
Maryon, H., 1938. ‘The technical methods of the Irish smiths of the Bronze and Early Iron Ages’, Proc. Roy. Irish Academy, xliv, 181228.Google Scholar
Meulien, E., 1886. Catalogue et Descriptions des Objets d'Art des Temps Préhistoriques, Musée de Chalon-sur-Saône.Google Scholar
Milligan, S. T., 1885-1886. ‘Notes and queries’, J. Roy. Soc. Antiq. Ireland, xviii, 538.Google Scholar
Mohen, J-P., 1977. L'Age du Bronze dans la region de Paris.Google Scholar
Moreau, J., 1971. ‘Un moule d'enclume de l'Age du Bronze trouvé a La Lède-du-Gurp’, Gallia Préhistoire, xiv, 267–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mortillet, A., 1906. ‘Cachette de l'Age du Bronze de Porcieu-Amblagnieu, Isère’, L'Homme Prihistorique, iv, 129.Google Scholar
Munro, R., 1890. The Lake Dwellings of Europe.Google Scholar
Nicolardot, J-P. & Gaucher, G., 1975. Typologie des Objets de l'Age Bronze en France, V. Outils.Google Scholar
Oldeberg, A. E., 1943. Metallteknik under forhistorisk Tid.Google Scholar
Organ, R. M., 1956. ‘Further notes on an anvil and a palstave found at Flax Bourton, Somerset’, Proc. Bristol Univ. Spelaeol. Soc. vii, 184–7.Google Scholar
Rowlands, M. J., 1976. The Production and Distribution of Metalwork in the Middle Bronze Age in Southern Britain.Google Scholar
Smith, J. A., 1881. ‘Small ancient bronze anvil found in Sutherland’, Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scotland, xvi, 22–5.Google Scholar
Sprockhoff, E., 1956. Jungbronzezeitliche Hortfunde der Südzone des nordischen Kreises.Google Scholar
Sutherland, Duke of, 1890–1. ‘Exhibit to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland’, Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scotland, xxv, 67.Google Scholar
Trump, B., 1968. ‘Fenland Rapiers’ in Coles, J. & Simpson, D. D. A., (eds.), Studies in Ancient Europe.Google Scholar
Wyss, R., 1967. Bronzezeitliches Metallhandwerk.Google Scholar