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Description: | Incomplete developed flat axe with hammer raised flanges of later Early Bronze Age date (c. 2000 - 1700 BC). Although incomplete the classification of the axe matches the descriptions and illustrations of the axe type Arreton which is dated to Early Bronze Age III, of metalworking stage V, which corresponds to Needham's (1996) Period 3 circa 2000 - 1700 BC.The axehead is broadly sub rectangular in plan with a splayed crescent shaped blade. In profile it is broadly lentoid, with slight tapering edges. There is a horizontal break toward at the butt of the axehead which has removed the end of the axe; approximately 7/8 ths of the axe survives. The overall length is 100.3mm and the axe weighs 169.98 grams.The butt of the axe is lost; the break is patinated but heavily corroded and pitted. At the break the butt is 19.0mm wide. The septum expands (slightly) from the break toward the median bevel. The median bevel is slight being only slightly raised above the surface of the septum; the ridge is not especially prominent. Below the bevel the sides continue to expand. The width at the median ridge is 21.6mm (septum width 13.8mm) and the width at the base of the axe before the sides expand to form the blade is 24.3mm (septum width 18.5mm). The edges / sides of the axe are bowed (D shaped) with convex edges. These edges are slightly faceted. The flanges are lozenge-shaped and are longer / higher toward the rear of the axe. The flanges are likely to have been raised rather than cast. In profile they are D shape and eroded projecting a maximum of 1.5mm above the septum. They are highest at a point just behind (4mm) the median ridge. The area between the median ridge and junction with the blade has been decorated by a series of bowed C shaped crescentic bands formed from hammering / punching. This decoration is masked by corrosion but seems to have been formed by regular sub-rectangular punches forming a serrated ridge. This is best observed under a raking light. These bands seem to mirror the shape of the median ridge and terminate at the junction with the blade. The sides of the axe have also been decorated with a diagonal cable like decoration formed in a similar way to that on the upper blade. This cabling is again distorted by laminating corrosion but seems to cover the whole of both sides. At the base of the axe below the decoration on the upper blade the sides expand to produce a crescentic blade edge with a width of 57.8mm. The tips of the crescent shaped blade have been lost through abrasion. A distinct blade facet is not present and has been lost through corrosion. There are a series of patinated striations (incised lines / file marks) running across the width of the axe. These may be a result of sharpening the cutting edge.The axe is a mid brown colour with a highly polished patina. Many areas of this patina have been removed, probably as a direct result of movement in the plough soil. This abrasion is most evident of the blade and butt of the axe. There are also significant areas of pitting and some active - light green corrosion are present. The axehead is best described as coming from the Arreton type of long-flanged developed flat axes; however, it does bear a number of similar characteristics to the Brandon type. On reflection the distinguishing point between the two is the height of the flanges and style of decoration. This example, therefore, seems to fit best with the Arreton type (cf Burgess and Schmidt: Axes of Northern Britain pp65 - 75 specifically 409, 411 and 421). Burgess and Schmidt suggest from their study that the distribution of this Arreton type concentrates in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Their work though looks directly at the axes of Scotland and Northern England.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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