Something near, something far: referencing of local and supra-regional origins in Middle- and Late Bronze Age hoards from the Northern Netherlands

In multiple bronze object hoards of the Middle- (c. 1500-1050 BC) and Late Bronze Age (c. 1050-800 BC) from the Northern Netherlands, often items of distinctly local style as well as objects of supra-regional origin are combined. In this contribution, it is argued that this association is not coincidental, but a meaningful and deliberate aspect of depositional acts. As such hoards generally comprise various fragmented items and sometimes casting jets, it is argued (following Fontijn 2008), that such depositions reflect acts to facilitate (e.g. render morally positive, placate supernatural entities involved) the conversion of innately non-local base materials into new local shapes and local patterns of use. Additionally, hoards consisting of complete items that also show this combination of the ‘near’ and ‘far’, testify that this combining had significance beyond solely those hoards related to local conversion of scrap.