Hoard of Bronze Age weapons found by banks of the Thames.

The Bronze Age in Britain began around 2,000 BC and lasted for nearly 1,500 years. It was a time when sophisticated bronze tools, pots and weapons were brought over from continental Europe.

A hoard of ancient weapons discovered on a building site by the banks of the Thames in 2019 may have been an offering to the gods, experts say. The 453 artifacts date back nearly 3,000 years and were discovered in Havering, east London. Axes, swords, spears, rings, daggers and copper ingots make up the ancient collection, which dates from between 800BC and 900BC.

The placement of hundreds of weapons carefully buried in groups close together suggests the site in Havering might have been a metal worker’s former armoury recycling metal. Many of the objects were damaged or broken. The objects will go on display for the first time at the Museum of London Docklands.