The two copper axeheads and a blade were unearthed by a metal detector enthusiast Rob Middleton in a field at Ballamoar earlier this year.

They date from the early Bronze Age (2500 – 2150 BC) in a period sometimes called the Copper Age when metal working was in its infancy and was beginning to replace flint as the new, modern material.

Mr Anderson has now donated the items to Manx National Heritage, whose experts will carry out further research on them before they are permanently displayed in the prehistoric gallery at the Manx Museum, Douglas.

Finder of the axeheads, Rob Middleton, said: 'I'm thrilled these artefacts are being donated to MNH for our national museum.

'I was very excited when I discovered them, as I've spent many years searching for Bronze Age material. They were discovered over a period of four months and spread over a large area of ground. Searching last winter was extremely difficult due to wet conditions.'

These are not the first archaeological finds to be unearthed on Mr Anderson's farmland – a Roman brooch was among previous intriguing discoveries in a land never conquered by the Romans.

Mr Anderson said: 'I'm pleased that artefacts of such importance have been discovered on our land. I have known Rob for many years and he has brought lots of interesting finds to my attention.

'Rob is very knowledgeable about what he finds, so when he brought the axeheads to show me, I had no doubt that he was correct in their identification.

'I am pleased to donate the artefacts into the care of MNH and look forward to finding out even more about them from the research that can now be carried out.'

Allison Fox, curator of archaeology for MNH said: 'When Mr Middleton discovered the artefacts, he was very careful not to clean them, or even wipe the surface soil away, which was exactly the right thing to do.

'The soil surrounding artefacts can often hold as much information as the artefacts themselves and acts as a protective layer for the surface of the object. Due to his care, the possibilities for further research are good, enabling us to find out a little more about the point in time when the Isle of Man left the Stone Age and embraced the new technology of metal-working.'

Copper/Bronze Age metal artefacts are relatively uncommon in the Isle of Man and only three or four such early pieces of metal have so far been found.

These pieces contained traces of copper from Ireland and Wales, which could be the source of the copper in the newly-discovered axeheads.

However, intriguingly, there is evidence to support the theory that copper deposits at Bradda Head and Langness may have been mined in prehistory, so perhaps these axeheads were of truly Manx origin.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Send your comments to newsviews@newsiom.co.im

YOUR COMMENTS

I would Just like to say what a fine ambassador Rob is to metal detecting, what brilliant finds! and I hope over the years they will bring a lot of pleasure to those visiting the Museum. Best Regards
JOHN RIGBY, NCMD Membership Secretary