Spearhead, pegged spearhead

An Early Bronze Age copper alloy decorated, socketed spearhead dating 2,600 to 1,600 BCE.

The earliest metal tools were flat copper axes cast in open moulds. Later, more elaborate forms of axes, daggers and spearheads were made of bronze, an alloy of copper and tin. Whetstones were used to sharpen the edges.

This is one of a large number of prehistoric tools and weapons that were deliberately placed in the River Thames. There was a widespread practice of placing important objects into watery places such as rivers, springs and bogs that spans Europe.