Two flat pieces of bronze, one is fish-shaped. Both are broken, and could possibly have been part of the same object. Both are corroded. The largest fragment measures 7.8 x 3.9-4.9 cm, thickness 0.6 cm; the smallest piece measures 2.4 x 3.7 cm, thickness 0.6 cm. Possibly casting debris.
Context:
Found in the ground, no other information.
Date:
A general date to the Bronze Age, possibly Iron Age.
One half of a small soapstone mold for a decorated ax without a handle. The shape is black and semi-circular. The core print consists of a conical depression in the middle, flanked by two round depressions and a notch on each side. The cavity is for a small waisted axe, with raised ribs on the side facets. There is a round indentation on the blade, which is an imperfection in the soapstone. Rygh 1999 [1885], fig. 97 is a parallel. Length: 5.9 cm Width: 3.8-4 cm
Location:
Stangeland, Sandnes, Rogaland
Context:
Found in the ground, no other information.
Date:
Younger Bronze Age period 5-6
Fragment of a soapstone mould for a blade, possibly a sword or dagger. Only the tip of the blade is preserved. The ends converge into a point, and there is a marked central rib. There is some damage around the tip. Length: 9 cm. Width: 2.4 – 3.7 cm. Photo: Svein Skare © Universitetsmuseet i Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
No information on when or where it was found.
Location:
Prestegarden, Ullensvang (gnr. 76), Ullensvang, Hordaland
Date:
As this is a fragment without an indication of the type of blade, a more precise dating cannot be given. The form is dated to the Bronze Age.
One half of a soapstone mould for socketed axe with loop. There are three transverse ribs on the neck, between the rim and the loop. The mould is somewhat damaged, especially around the edge, so that the shape of the blade is uncertain. There is a V-shaped cut at the top. The shape is concave on the outside. The axe is similar to Montelius: Minnen fig. 1169 and 1170. Length: 10.9 cm. Width: 6.4 cm
Context:
Found in the ground during plowing during potato harvest, no other information.
Location:
Eide (no. 123/11), Granvin, Hordaland
Date:
The mould is for a small axe of a type dated to the Late Bronze Age period 6.
Mould. One half of a soapstone mould for an socketed axe; probably unfinished as there is no loop or ribs. The axe is slender and undecorated, with a curved egg. Length: 13.4 cm. Width: 6.3 cm
Context:
Found about 0.5 m deep on a slope, 20-30 m from the site of several pits and a ditch. It was found together with a «quern stone», which is now lost. Excavations at the site yielded no further information.
Location:
Opedal (number 74/11), Ullensvang, Hordaland
Date:
Since there are no datable details, the shape cannot be given a more specific dating than the Younger Bronze Age period 4-6.
Pieces of copper alloy. Et lite flatt stykke oksidert kobberlegering; den er delvis oppløst. Det kan ikke fastslås om dette er skrapmetall eller var en del av en gjenstand.
Context:
Found in a mountain shelter at Ruskeneset, in a small bay next to a body of water. The site was excavated in 1914-16 and 1974, and consists of two small rock shelters (Ruskeneset I and II) approx. 8-10 m.a.s.l., placed approx. 50 m apart. Ruskeneset I was partially destroyed by road construction around 1900 and the site was discovered when some objects, including a stone axe, were found. The shelter measured 10 x 5 m, height unknown. Ruskeneset II measures 15x 6 m, height 15 m. There were two main phases, a late Neolithic phase in both rock shelters and a phase dated to the Iron Age in shelter II (Brinkmann and Shetelig 1920). The finds include bones from 66 species, shells, hooks, harpoons, arrowheads and flint daggers. However, the Late Neolithic layer also includes material indicating a Bronze Age phase: bifacial arrowheads with convex bases, the pieces of copper alloy, a sherd of a soapstone vessel. The culture layers at both shelters were assessed as homogeneous, despite several sterile layers. Human bones were also found: in shelter II, some bones were found scattered in the cultural layer, and some bones and teeth from a child were found under a stone of white quartz. The bones from three skeletons were found outside the main activity area of crisis center I. These were not professionally excavated. The piece of copper alloy was found in Ruskeneset II, and a small lump of bronze was also found (B06824/26). The latter was analyzed and contained copper, tin and nickel. The lump was destroyed in the process. A possible crucible (B6914/c) was found in a mound of earth at Ruskeneset I.
Location:
Ruskeneset under Søreide (no. 35/9), Bergen, Hordaland
Date:
Late Neolithic or Bronze Age
Casting debris, copper alloy, possibly from the Bronze Age. The bronze is corroded. Length: 6.8 cm. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
Found in a field between the farmhouse and the road. There are no other details about the find. Other finds in the same field include a stone axe, a flint disc, flint chips and a slate tool, as well as axes from the Early and Younger Iron Age (Fett 1973). B6759, a spearhead from period 3, was found on the neighboring farm Nesbø.
Location:
Vik (gnr. 59/3), Fitjar, Hordaland
Date:
Possibly from the Bronze Age
Two pieces of soapstone mould for two different swords (B8757). The forms are relatively whole but in parts: one is glued together from four parts, the other from two parts. There is crushing damage at the breaks, but the blades of the swords can be reconstructed. Both swords have tangs, one is shorter than the other but has a longer tang. The forms measure L 59.6 cm x W 2.8 cm D 2.8 cm and L 47.5 cm x W 6.9 cm D 2.8 cm. The longest sword has measured L 56.5 cm W 4.8 cm. The other has measured L 50.2 cm W 4.5 cm.
Context:
Found around 1920 during fresh clearance at a depth of approx. 30 cm, almost on bedrock and close to a large rock. The place is 20-30 m from the farmhouse at Slottsvik.
Location:
Slottsvik (151/7), Ålesund, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
The swords are similar to those dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 4 and the forms are therefore dated as such.
