Wilburton-Wallington Phase

The Wilburton-Wallington Phase is the name given by archaeologists to a metalworking stage of the Bronze Age in Britain spanning the period between c. 1140 BC and c. 1020 BC.

The Wilburton complex was present in the south of Britain and the Wallington complex in the north. Both are characterised by the introduction of copper-lead-tin alloys in bronze making and by the manufacture of leaf-shaped slashing swords, socketed spearheads secured to a shaft with a peg, horse-bits and socketed axes.

It is paralleled by the Poldar industries in Scotland and the Roscommon industries in Ireland as well as being linked with the Urnfield A2-B1 in South Germany.

It is preceded in Britain by the Penard Period, and followed by the Blackmoor Period.

Bibliography

• Needham, S., Bronk Ramsey, C., Coombs, D., Cartwright, C., and Pettitt, P., (1997) "An independent chronology for British Bronze Age metalwork: the results of the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Programme", Archaeological Journal, Volume 154, pp. 55-107.