TESTS have poured cold water on what was originally thought to be one of the most historically significant discoveries in Colchester.

Excited archeologists discovered a flint head at the Greyfriars site, in East Street, in January.

They thought the spearhead could date back as early as 30,000BC.

It was packed off to experts for analysis to prove the theory, which would have made it the oldest find in Essex.

But scientific tests have proved their hopes to be slightly wide of the mark.

A spokesman for Colchester and Ipswich Museums, said: “Our considered opinion now is that it is an early Bronze Age dagger, made, again very approximately, between 2500-1750 BC.

“The flint, and indeed the form of the dagger, suggest that it was an import from north Germany.”

Colchester Archeological Trust had been monitoring the site for two months when a worker made the discovery in January.

The museum service spokesman said the find was still very important, despite it not being what archeologists orignally hoped.

He said: “Flint daggers are rare finds in Essex.

“They were ceremonial knives rather than working weapons, and should be thought of as status symbols.

“All in all, the Greyfriars flint is an important addition to knowledge and the archaeology of the county.”