|
Date: |
|
Description: | A knapped flint Neolithic polished axe. The flint has developed a pale mottled patina on the majority of the axe's surface which is a beige/cream colour. In plan the axe is a sub-drop shape, with a narrowed butt in width and depth. The narrowness is intentional and additional flakes which are unpolished have been removed to shape it in this way. The sides of the axe are facetted, the facets continue to the butt terminal, and tapers towards the blade. One side facet is rounded and smooth, other side facet is more angular and flattened. The blade is rounded and asymmetrical. It is still quite sharp where recent damage has not occurred. At the apex of the blade there are some recent damage. The surface of the axe has been polished or ground, leaving a shiny smooth surface. On both surfaces towards the butt there are some flake scars which appear to be forming a crude butt similar to that found on later palstaves. In section the axe is a sub asymmetrical pointed elongated oval. It measures 115.62mm long, 53.23mm wide, 24.29mm thick and weighs 189g. The axe is a lenticular with facetted sides type (Field, D. and Woolley, A.R. 1984 'Neolithic and Bronze Age ground stone implements' from Surrey: morphology, petrology and distribution. Surrey Archaeological Collective Volume 75 p,85-109) . Butler (Butler, C. 2005 Prehistoric Flintwork Tempus, p.142) describes the polishing process as being a potentially long process, using sandstone, possibly with water and sand, to smooth the surface. The axe would have originally been mounted onto a wooden handle and held in place by leather and fibre thongs (Butler, 2005: 142). The axe dates to the Neolithic period (c.3500 to c.2100 BC).
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
Axe
A knapped flint Neolithic polished…
-
-
-
AXEHEAD
A Neolithic polished flint axe.…
-
Axe
A polished stone axe dating…
-
Axehead
An incomplete knapped flint Neolithic…
-
AXEHEAD
An incomplete knapped flint Neolithic…
-
AXEHEAD
An incomplete knapped flint Neolithic…
-
AXE
A polished stone axe dating…
-
AXE
Incomplete knapped and polished Neolithic…
|