Data copyright © Prof Julian D Richards unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Prof
Julian D
Richards
Department of Archaeology
University of York
King's Manor
Exhibition Square
York
YO1 7EP
England
Tel: 01904 433901
Fax: 01904 433902
In total 30 knives were recovered, including one pivoting knife, with 11 recovered during 2006 and 19 in 2007. The most common forms were curved-back knives, closely followed by those with angle-backs. There is a clear difference between the two Burdale sites, with all the angle-backed examples recovered from the 2007 excavation, and none from 2006. This may reflect a difference in date or site function. Metallographic analysis revealed a difference in quality of the knives between Burdale and neighbouring Wharram Percy. The good quality manufacture and heat treatment of the Burdale knives is reflected in high hardness levels (473HV at Burdale compared to 261HV at Wharram). This must indicate that a different smith was operating at Burdale and it suggests localised differences in knives. There were also a number of surface features on the Burdale knives, whereas it is notable that at Wharram Percy no knives with transverse notches or indents were found, perhaps indicating a more limited range of craft activities.