I. Swords and Sequence in the British Bronze Age

Abstract

British and continental archaeologists alike have long been beholden to J. D. Cowen for his interpretation of the bronze sword in Europe. His identification in 1951 of Hemigkofen and Erbenheim types among South German Griffzungenschwerter, his recognition that these forms were basic to all subsequent sword development in the British Isles, and his dating of them to the Hallstatt A (Ha A) Urnfield phase have remained crucial in any interpretation of the British Late Bronze Age. All will regret that his illness and death prevented his intended presentation of the complete sword series from this country, illuminated as it would have been by his perception. A corpus of British bronze swords is, however, known to be in preparation elsewhere. Meantime, an archive of Cowen papers and photographs has been deposited in the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. The present study based on these (though not always following Mr. Cowen's classifications) attempts a preliminary discussion of the earlier swords he assembled from Britain (excluding Ireland), about which relatively little has yet been published. The work stems from the generosity of Mr. Cowen and his family, in opening the archive for research.