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Description: | A complete cast bronze (copper alloy) faceted socketed axe (axehead) of Late Bronze Age date (950 - 750 BC). The axe is elegantly cast being relatively slender and well proportioned with a trumpet shaped collar, relatively narrow sides, which taper slightly and then expand to form a sub-triangular shaped blade It is best classified as a Faceted Axe, type Meldreth. These axes have been discovered in associated with the metalwork from the Ewart Park tradition (Metalworking phase XII). This corresponds to Needham's (1996) Period 6-7 circa 1000-700 CAL. BC.The mouth of the axe is sub-circular in cross section with the running casters being removed entirely being trimmed and filed; there is no scar from where these were suggesting the axe had been cast and finished to a high standard. The shape of the mouth is sub-rectangular (rectangular with rounded corners). The trumpet-shaped mouth of the axe tapers and the loop is relatively small in a low position set well beneath the collar. Directly above the loop is a cast decorative double circumferential or transverse grooves which are regular and encircles the entire axe evenly. The loop is D-shaped in cross section. The upper body of the axe could be described as faceted, with six faces; however, the facets are relatively low and slight. The lower section of the axe flares to form an elegantly expanding blade. The casting flashes on the sides of the axe have been trimmed, and clear striations on the lower blade bevel suggest preparation for use. The cutting edge itself is abraded, although the crescent shaped edge is regular suggesting little evidence of wear / sustained use. Apart from the grooves below the collar there is no evidence of other ornament on the axe. However, there are several distinct areas which are worthy of note. These are present on the lower socket and upper blade of both sides of the axe, although they are preserved better on one face. These areas consist of deliberate scratching or damage which is heavily patinated suggesting this happened prior to deposition. Thee marks are almost all lentoid in shape and under the microscope have U shaped profiles. It is suggested that these are a result of significant impact with another object - possibly another axe or metal tool as they are so uniform in nature and clearly not decorative. As mentioned above these are more prevalent on one face where several of them overlap. Similar marks have been noted on other Bronze Age artefacts and it is suggested that this is possibly done as part of a process / ceremony to 'kill' the artefact prior to deposition. The positioning and frequency of the marks cannot be explained through wear and usage. The axe is a deep dark green colour with a well preserved polished patina. One edge of the axe has been damaged and a relatively deep scratch is present revealing a bronze coloured metal. The external edge of the loop also has a similar scratch. There is no evidence of light green active powdery corrosion. This damage may be evidence of abrasion in the burial environment, it is certain that the damage is not 'old' as a patina has not developed over it. The finder has socked the axehead in oil to prevent corrosion, hence some of the reflective (shiny) surfaces in the attached images.The axe measures length; 107.4mm, blade width; 50.1mm, width 36.0mm at socket and 34.1mm thick at socket. The socket depth is 83.4mm. The internal dimensions of the mouth of the socket are 25.7mm x 23.0mm. Weight: 181.67 gramsThis axe can be classified as a Socked Axe of type Meldreth, possibly being sub-classified as a Variant Aylsham. This style / type of axe has a common distribution in the East of England. The majority of axes of this style have historically been found in the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire. The distribution pattern continues to a lesser degree in South-East England (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981: 211). However, a number of Meldreth Type axes have been found in hoards associated with South-Wales Types and Ewart Park Swords, for example the Stogursey Hoard, Somerset (ibid, 210). This is reflected in a local Marches distribution where they have been treated as exotics occurring in a Ewart Park phase hoard from Pencoyd, Herefordshire (HESH-802833) and a broken and damaged faceted axe from Westbury, Shropshire (HESH-F8A521).
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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AXEHEAD
An almost complete cast copper…
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