Monument record 1307 - Fairy Brow

Bronze Age cremation burial with a single-riveted tanged dagger. Excavated in 1983 by the South Trafford Archaeological Group in a field called Fairy Brow on Stamford Farm. Fairy Brow field is locally associated with a haunted graveyard. An aerial photograph reveals a square feature. Minor excavations by South Trafford Archaeological Group followed metal detecting activities. In Area A, two features 70cm below the surface were revealed. In Area B, in the vicinity of the square enclosure on the air photo, was the cremation burial with the dagger (1). Three radiocarbon dates have been derived from the site, one of which is 3435+/- 35 bp (GrN-13172) & the other 2 very similar (2). The dagger has been dated to 2,000-1,500 BC & analysis shows it to be made of a copper alloy, with a significant proportion of tin and lead, as well as 7 other trace elements (3).

<1> Faulkner P, 1983, Excavation report (Book). SCH1184.

<2> Various, Written Communication to the HER, Tindall A S 1985 (Written Communication). SCH3756.

<3> Various, Written Communication to the HER, Needham S (Written Communication). SCH3756.

<5> From 1988, The Manchester Archaeological Bulletin, 3/4 Nevell M (Journal/Periodical). SCH3204.

<6> Faulkner P & Tindall A S, Fairy brow Excavation report draft (Book). SCH1218.