An Analysis of Irish Early Bronze Age Hoards Containing Copper or Bronze Objects

This paper examines the phenomenon of the deposition of hoards of copper and bronze objects in Ireland during the Early Bronze Age. It concludes that the majority of these are the result of deliberate deposition and that many were never intended for recovery. It is argued that the deposition of these hoards represents an active and changing phenomenon, within which geographical, contextual, cultural and chronological patterns can be identified.