Aspects of the Bronze Age in the Atlantic Archipelago and Beyond

Dirk Brandherm is Reader in Prehistory at Queen’s University Belfast and current President of the UISPP’s Metal Ages commission. His research interests are primarily concerned with exploring the dynamics of societal change in later prehistory, particularly in the Chalcolithic and in the Bronze and Iron Ages of Western Europe and the Mediterranean.

‘While it has been 12 years since the forum took place, the contents do not feel dated, with most papers having been updated in the intervening years to reflect new evidence and changing perspectives. This makes the volume relevant today, a helpful addition to our corpus of knowledge on the period in the north Atlantic.’ – Kathryn Krakowka (2026): Current Archaeology Issue 432

• Concepts, Chronologies and ConnectionsDirk Brandherm – Almost lost between the lines: the concept of the Atlantic Bronze AgeSabine Gerloff and Brendan O’Connor – A scheme for the British Bronze Age by C.F.C. HawkesKatharine Sawyer – Dating the entrance graves and cists of the Isles of ScillyRachel J. Crellin – The emergence of a Bronze Age on the Isle of ManAlice Rogers – One foot in sea, and one on shore: movement along the British North Sea coastline in the Early Bronze AgeCatriona Gibson, Peter Bray, Kerri Cleary, Fernando Fernández Palacios and John T. Koch – Mapping the flow: introduction to Atlantic Europe and the Metal Ages project Mining, Metalworking and Artefact StudiesSimon Timberlake and Peter Marshall – The Bronze Age mines dating project and some new ideas on ore extraction and smeltingWilliam O’Brien – Derrycarhoon mine and the supply of copper in later Bronze Age IrelandR. Alan Williams – Linking ore to metal: characterizing the ores and tracing the metal from the Great Orme Bronze Age copper mine in north WalesAndrew P. Fitzpatrick – Mining, making, and stone tools: the earliest metal objects in Britain and IrelandLinda Boutoille – Cushion stones and company: British and Irish finds of stone metalworking implements from the Bell Beaker period to the Late Bronze AgeTobias Mörtz – Once unburied, yet unfound: a survey of the moulds for casting swords in Late Bronze Age BritainKatharine Leonard – Commensality and casting: a discussion of Irish Late Bronze Age cauldronsDavid Bell – Bronze Age halberds: use-wear and functionalityDavid Mullin – Return to the source: the use of stone in pottery in later Bronze Age BritainRos Ó Maoldúin – Well shaved travellers: Irish and Scottish Early Bronze Age razorsOliver Dietrich and Tobias Mörtz – Sockets full of scrap? Remarks on deliberate fragmentation in Late Bronze Age metal deposits in south-eastern and north-western Europe Landscape, Settlement and Rock ArtJames O’Driscoll – The Baltinglass hillfort cluster in the context of the Irish hillfort phenomenon: an initial viewAlan Hawkes – The re-use of prehistoric burnt mounds in Ireland: the importance of social memory, identity and placeRebecca Aroon Enlander – Chronologies and connections: exploring the re-use of rock art and geological choice in Bronze Age IrelandMartin Rundkvist – Bronze Age landscape rules of deposition around Lakes Mälaren and Hjälmaren, Sweden Indices and AppendicesIndex of place names (in alphabetical order)Index of place names (by country)List of contributors2013 Bronze Age Forum programme