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AXEHEAD
Unique ID: IOW-78EFA7
Object type certainty: Certain
An incomplete polished stone axehead of Neolithic date (3500 BC - 2100 BC). The axehead has been made from a pebble of local stone, greyish green in colour. It is sub-triangular in plan and in side view it is pointed at the top and rounded at the bottom. It has a chip at each corner of the cutting edge on both faces. These appear to be recent breaks. Old breaks are situated on each face of the butt. These breaks have overlying striations have may have been created by an attempt to smooth the breaks. Alternatively, the striations may represent a secondary use of the implement. The identification of the artifact has been confirmed by Gill Varndell of the British Museum. Jamie Lund of the National Trust is of the opinion that the axehead is made of Coniston green slate (pers. comm. 15/11/2009). 82.6 x 64.6 x 23.6mm. Weight: 178.75g. Thanks are extended to Vicky Slowe, Curator of the Ruskin Museum for her assitance with the recoding of this implement.
Donated by the finder to the Ruskin Museum.
Notes:
The axehead appears to be a local stone although its petrological origin has not been confirmed by a geologist. The findspot, on the summit of Wetherlam, lies approximately 5.0km from the Langdale axe factories where Neolithic axeheads were manufactured. However, these implements were exported from the area as rough-outs whereas this implement has been polished. It is quite possible that the axehead has been transported to the find-spot from some distance away, since walkers sometimes retain interesting 'stones' and place them on significant cairns.
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Ruskin Museum
Subsequent action after recording: Donated to a museum
Chronology
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
Period from: NEOLITHIC [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Period to: NEOLITHIC [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Date from: 3500 BC
Date to: 2100 BC
Dimensions and weight
Length: 82.6 mm
Width: 64.6 mm
Thickness: 23.6 mm
Weight: 178.75 g
Quantity: 1
Materials and construction
Primary material: Stone [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Completeness: Incomplete [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Spatial data
Region: North West
County: Cumbria
District: South Lakeland
Parish: Coniston
Restricted 4 Figure grid reference: NY2801
The map has been degraded and provides an approximate location with a degree of random obfuscation.
Grid reference source:
Grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
Method of discovery: Other chance find
[scope notes]
General landuse: Other [scope notes]
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 8th July 2009
Personal details
Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Recorded by: Mr Frank Basford
- [
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Identified by: Mr Frank Basford - [view all attributed records]
Other reference numbers
Other reference: IOW2009-16
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Audit data
Created:
Saturday 3rd October 2009
Updated: Sunday 12th February 2012
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