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An incredible Bronze Age ceremonial dagger has been unveiled, after being used as a doorstep for more than a decade.

A museum has paid £40,000 ($63,000) for the rare 3,500-year-old dagger ploughed up near East Rudham in Norfolk 12 years ago.

The 27-inch (68cm) blade, believed to have been used in ancient rituals, is only the second of its kind found in the UK and the sixth in Europe.

Unearthed: The 4.1lbs (1.9kg) dirk is made from bronze which is nine-tenths copper and one-tenth tin. The nearest source for the copper is Wales while the tin may have come from Cornwall. It was deliberately bent when it was made as an offering to the gods

Researchers believe the dirk was never meant to be used as a weapon and was deliberately bent when it was made as an offering to the gods.

It was ploughed up in a field in East Rudham, by a farmer but he was unaware of its 'incredible importance'.

He left it unattended in his home in the village for more than a decade and even used it to prop open his office door.

The bronze treasure, known as the Rudham Dirk, came close to being thrown in a skip before a friend said he should get it checked out by archaeologists.

'Landmark Discovery': The 27 inch (68cm) blade is believed to have been used in ancient rituals. Pictured is Dr Tim Pestell, curator of Archaeology with Norfolk Museum Service, who has been negotiating with the landowner who found the dirk for almost a year

The historical significance of the dagger soon became clear and it has now been put on display at Norwich Castle Museum.

Researchers claim the dirk was only used for ceremonial occasions but the exact nature of the rituals are unknown.

It was deliberately made with blunt edges and without a handle and was impracticable for use as a weapon.

It dates back to the Middle Bronze Age - around 1500-1350BC - several hundred years after Stonehenge was built and perhaps 1000 years after Egypt's Great Pyramid.

Historians say similar dirks were found in France and Holland, suggesting people had travelled the channel to share the idea of a ritual dagger.

Dr Tim Pestell, senior curator of archaeology at Norwich Castle, said: 'Straight away they knew it was significant. It is three times the size of a normal dirk.

Dr Pestell added: 'It is amazing that it has been used as a doorstep but there are an awful lot of similar objects that are found just lying around a house.

'People aren't aware of the historical significance and I would urge them to take it in to be examined. You don't lose anything by doing it.'

Dr John Davies, Chief Curator of Norfolk Museums Service, said: 'This is one of the real landmark discoveries.'

The 4.1lbs (1.9kg) dirk is made from bronze which is nine-tenths copper and one-tenth tin. The nearest source for the copper is Wales while the tin may have come from Cornwall.

The only other example of a dirk of this type found in the UK is housed in the British Museum.

Thrilled: Archaeologist Dr Andrew Rogerson (left), whose team first identified the dagger (right), said he never expected the Oxborough breakthrough would be repeated. The dirk was made at a time when the North Sea was a 'maritime highway' and Norfolk sat at the crossroads of Europe

It was discovered by a man in 1988 when he tripped over it while walking through a wood in Oxborough, Norfolk.

The most recent find was slightly shorter, but it is possible the dirks may have been made in the same workshop by the same craftsman.

There are only four other examples of similar ceremonial dirks found, two in the Netherlands and two in France.

The dirk were made at a time when the North Sea was a 'maritime highway' and Norfolk sat at the crossroads of Europe.

'It's really exciting,' added Dr Pestell. 'These are trade and exchange networks that are far-reaching.

'You are talking about ocean-going ships here.'

The Rudham Dirk will be on show from today in Norwich Castle.

Accidental find: The dirk was ploughed up in a field in East Rudham, by a farmer but he was unaware of its 'incredible importance'