A remarkable discovery has been made in the UK where archaeologists have uncovered a rare wooden spade dating back to the Bronze Age, highlighting the significance of preserving artefacts from ancient history.
This spade provides invaluable insight into the lives of individuals during a transformative period when agriculture was becoming more prominent and communities were beginning to settle.
The spade was excavated from wetlands near Poole Harbour on the southern coast of England, an area where archaeological teams have been conducting extensive digs as part of a project aimed at restoring coastal habitats. Precautionary excavations are crucial to ensure that important historical artefacts are preserved and not lost to environmental changes.
Researchers discovered the spade while digging in circular trenches, known as ring gullies, believed to have been used as shelters. The moment they spotted the handle, it became evident they had found a significant piece of history crafted from a single oak tree.
The wet conditions of the area played a vital role in preserving the spade, as it remained shielded from oxygen, significantly slowing down its decay.
Radiocarbon dating has confirmed that the spade dates back approximately 3,400 to 3,500 years, based on a shard uncovered alongside it. This discovery places the artifact firmly in the Middle Bronze Age, a period noted for significant changes in prehistoric Britain as communities transitioned from nomadic lifestyles to more settled agricultural practices.
While there is no evidence of permanent habitation at the site due to its wetland nature, it appears that the area may have been seasonally utilized for various activities, including pasturing livestock in summer, cutting peat, or gathering reeds for thatching.
Future research will investigate the construction methods of the spade and its potential uses, which may include peat cutting or excavation of the ring gully itself.
Such well-preserved spades from this era are exceedingly rare, with one of the few other known examples being the Brynlow shovel, discovered in Cheshire in the late 19th century and dating back nearly 4,000 years.
