|
Date: |
|
Description: | Two conjoined iron objects, an axe and a dagger. The dagger has been slotted through the socket of the axe. The two pieces are corroded together, but it is not clear if they were joined during use, or only at the point of deposition. Though originally considered to be a single object, perhaps a battleaxe, this has now been discounted, as it would seem that battleaxes tend to have larger axe blades, and the tang does not seem substantial enough for such an object.The iron axe head is 164mm long, 54mm wide and 16mm thick. The hole for hafting is 33mm long, 8mm wide and is a narrow rectangular slot rather than a tubular hole. The axe head is rectangular in section. The butt end is slightly rounded in plan. The socket area is rectangular in plan, and after the hole, the sides start to flare towards the cutting blade. One side edge curves more strongly than the other, but the corner of the cutting edge is broken. The surviving part is curved. At the socket, the axe is 40mm wide and 16mm thick. At the widest part of the axe, at the start of the cutting blade, it is 54mm wide and 5mm thick. BERK-23A863 is a similar shape at the cutting end. This has been given a date of the 10th - 13th century. However, it is bigger and thicker than this example. There are also similarities with number 4, figure 14, page 62 of the London Museum Medieval Catalogue, which is a Medieval axe, however, the shape of the socket is different, having pointed sides, and the socket is also more tubular. It may therefore have a slightly later date. The narrowness of the blade suggests that this was a domestic tool rather than a battle axe.The iron dagger is 480mm long, 40mm wide, and 8mm thick. The blade is lozenge shaped in section and tapers gradually from 40mm wide and 8mm thick to 22mm wide and 6mm thick at the point. The sides are then sharply angled into to form the point which seems to be original. Ii has a long and thin tang, which is a little damaged and bent. It is 165mm long, 14mm wide and 3mm thick. These measurements are taken from where the dagger protrudes from the axe socket. The join between the blade and the tang is not visible as it is inside the socket of the axe. The dimensions of the dagger seem broadly similar to daggers 1 and 2 in plate VI, page 38 of the London Museum Medieval Catalogue. These date from the 13th and 14th century.Given the medieval dates likely for the two objects, it is likely that they were joined, for a reason now lost to antiquity, and deposited in the earth in the late medieval period, though given the lack of close parallels, this cannot be certain.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
HOARD
A hoard of c.114 Bronze…
-
axe
An iron axe that has…
-
AXE
An iron axe that has…
-
HOARD
Treasure case: 2006 T308Circumstances of…
-
AXE
An socketed iron axe head…
-
AXE
An socketed iron axe head…
-
HOARD
Gold (terminology is Eogan??s (1969)…
-
SWORD
Medieval copper alloy dagger pommel,…
-
SWORD
Medieval copper alloy dagger pommel,…
-
DAGGER
Medieval or post-medieval copper alloy…
|