Record ID: NMGW169 - BRONZE AGE socketed axehead

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Socketed axehead

Unique ID: NMGW169

Object type certainty: Certain

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Small plain socketed axe, which is faceted, has six faces, and exhibits a hexagonal cross section mid way down the blade. A high placed loop extends from the underside of a flattened collar, which is 7mm in width. The axe has an ovoid to circular shaped socket mouth, which is characteristic of this type of axe. The sides of the axes are concave and divergent, splaying out towards the blade end, but with no marked recurving of the blade edge. One of the axe faces has an uneven surface, probably the result of a slight casting imperfection. A series of striations running parallel with the blade edge indicate that the axe was sharpened for use. The absence of projecting casting flashes and runners on the mouth also indicate that the axe was finished after casting for use. The axe has a blue green patina, and is heavy for its size, suggesting that it might have a high lead content. The blade surface has been chipped at two points, probably during its recent retrieval from the ground, and therefore it is only possible to estimate that the original blade width of the axe was c.45.5mm. No evidence of axe haft remained within the axe socket, which was cleaned of soil by an archaeological conservator. Length 79mm, surviving blade width 44mm, depth of socket 48.5mm, internal socket dimensions 29.5mm x 27.5mm, external socket dimensions 40mm x 36mm, weight 177.9 grams. Date:1150-750 Cal BC (Wilburton or Ewart Park stages).

Notes:

Part of a hoard of nine Late Bronze Age socketed axes. Following the removal of two of the axes, including this one, by the finder the remainder were excavated by archaeologists from the National Museums & Galleries of Wales (see: Treasure Hunting, November 1999, pages 42-44 for an anecdotal account of the discovery). Excavation revealed that the axes had been deliberately deposited in a shallow pit during antiquity, which had been truncated in the recent past. The pit was apparently isolated; geophysical survey of the vicinity indicated no sign of further activity in the adjacent area. The axes were probably designed for use in carpentry and woodland management. The reason for burying the axes in a pit is not certain; they may have been collected for their scrap value in preparation for recycling or deposited as a votive offering as part of a prehistoric religious ritual.

Class: faceted

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: BRONZE AGE
Period from: BRONZE AGE [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Date from: 1150 BC
Date to: 750 BC

Dimensions and weight

Length: 79 mm
Width: 44 mm
Weight: 177.9 g
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Manufacture method: Cast [scope notes | view all attributed records]

Spatial data

Region: Wales
County: Newport
District: Newport
To be known as: South Wales

Method of discovery: Metal detector [scope notes]
General landuse: Grassland, Heathland [scope notes]
Specific landuse: Regularly improved [scope notes]

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Friday 9th July 1999

Personal details

Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Recorded by: Adam Gwilt - [ view all attributed records]
Identified by: Adam Gwilt - [view all attributed records]

Other reference numbers

Other reference: NMGWPA:99.38.1

References cited

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