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Description: | A fragment of a base-metal socketed axe of Late Bronze Age date found in association with smaller fragments of similar composition, LVPL-A47FE3.The following has been taken from the treasure report, case 12.11 Wales, (Adam Gwilt, Vanessa Oakden & Mary Davis):Maximum surviving length 40.8mm; external mouth dimensions 29.9mm by 27.9mm; internal mouth dimensions 21.2mm by approx. 18.3mm; surviving weight 65.9g. The upper mouth and neck fragment of a slender faceted axe. The axe has a slightly flaring or trumpet-shaped collar, whose base is defined by a horizontal moulding. The axe has eight facets. The mouth is oval in plan and it is apparent that the axe has been unevenly cast in the mould, with the wall thickness much greater on the surviving side and a break on the opposite side, where the wall thickness is very narrow. There is no evidence of a point of attachment for a loop on either side of the axe. On one side there is a width of 5.8mm between the moulding and the break: if there was every a loop on this side, it must have been inserted very low and some way beneath the moulding. On the opposite side of the axe, the wall has been perforated with a hole, approximately 3mm in diameter, just below the moulding, with a tear and gap in the wall beneath it. However, there is no evidence of a surface scar or protruding stub here consistent with a loop insertion. The presence of internal excess metal around the perforation, on the internal socket surface, indicates that the perforation was punched after casting. The axe fragment is noticeably heavier than typical for bronze and has a dull grey surface with areas of pale grey patination. Most breaks appear to be ancient, though slight notching on the interior mouth surface is modern and shows the metal to be silvery in colour.Metallurgical analysis showed that the alloy largely comprised of lead, with a modest composition of tin (10-20%) and the copper present as a minor alloy element (5-10%). This alloy composition is unusual and completely different to a typical Late Bronze Age bronze composition, typically containing 70-85% copper, 7-14% tin and 5-20% lead. However, these three metal technologies were all known and available during the Late Bronze Age, while the absence of zinc is consistent with a prehistoric alloying technology.The similarity in alloy composition of the socketed base fragment provides some measure of supporting evidence for its contemporaneity with the socketed axe fragment.The socketed axe fragment may be identified as having close morphological and typological similarities with Type Meldreth, Variant Aylsham slender faceted axes (Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 204-11), also equating with Class D Faceted axes (e.g. Needham 1990, 41-3) and Class 8 socketed axes in Ireland (Eogan 2000, 53-62_). These are securely dated by associations in numerous hoards across Britain to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age, dating to between 1000 to 800BC (Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 209-11); Needham 1990, 43; Eogan 2000, 61). However, a few apparently earlier associations belonging to the later stages of the Wilburton phase (1150-1000BC) suggest the possibility of their origins slightly earlier (Coombs 1979, 214; O'Connor 1980, 135-6; Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 210-11; Needham 1990, 43). Therefore a date range of 1100-800 BC, and within the Late Bronze Age, is secure. These slender faceted axes are often present as small elements within wider hoards and are found singly. They are a type found across Britain, Ireland and France and they are generally viewed as delicate woodworking tools with specialist functions.Slender bodies with 6 to 14 facets and trumpet-shaped and flaring collars are typical characteristics of Type Meldreth axes, and whitch this example illustrates. Its oval shaped mouth and slender dimensions are also consistent with published examples (e.g. Schmidt & Burges1981, Cats. 1212-59; Eogan 2000, Cats. 296-392), while the horizontal moulding is a defining feature of the Aylsham Variant of this axe form. The absence of a loop on this axe fragment is however atypical: nearly all examples have a loop springing from the underside of the moulding or collar stop, although occasional unlooped examples are also known (e.g. Schmidt & Burgess 1981, 205 & 208, Cats. 1217 & 1248B; Eogan 2000, 55 & 215, Cat. 323, U4 & U5). It is just feasible to suggest that there may once have been a loop on this axe, which was set particularly low down the side of the exe. Examples of Type Meldreth axes with low set loops are known amongst the published corpora, although the upper loop arms tend to emerge from the base of wide collars or very deep collar mouldings. On balance, therefore, it seems more likely that this socketed axe never had a loop.The alloy composition of the socketed axe: lead with additions of tin and small quantities of copper is unusual and not suited to fulfilling a practical use as an axe. A preliminary scan of the published literature has failed to reveal a parallel fro this composition within a socketed axe. It seems probable therefore, that this socketed axe was a test-piece created during the moulding and casting process.The absence of a loop quite likely signals that it was one of a small group of unlooped Meldreth, Variant Aylsham axes. However another tentative possibility, as a test piece, might be that it was cast into an unfinished mould.The selection of these objects for deposition within a hoard, rather than recycling them within later castings, was probably itself a deliberate choice of its Bronze Age maker or associated community. Different metals and stages in the transformational casting process, appear to have been associated with distinct cultural concerns and meanings, which needed to be materially expressed. The deliberate punched perforation through the side wall of the socketed axe, seemingly in antiquity, may also be a deliberate destructive and symbolic act, marking out this object further as special or different, and preparing it for burial in the ground. It is difficult to link this act with any practical benefit linked with its functioning as a tool, while it is equally difficult to see how such a precise perforation could be achieved through accidental damage during the more recent past.
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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