2012-01-31 11:04:50 Amy Downes acooper 2012-01-31 11:09:00 Amy Downes acooper SWYOR-7CAD22 PALSTAVE A cast copper alloy Palstave dating from the middle part of the Bronze Age (about 1700 BC - 1400 BC), the Arreton or Acton Park phase The palstave has an even green patina with pitting on the surface. The total (incomplete) length of the axehead is 132.6mm, with the blade (from the edge to the stop) comprising 78.56mm length and the septum/butt measuring 54mm in length. The flanges have a maximum breadth of 20.3mm. At its widest, the blade is 44.1mm in breadth from tip to tip. The blade is narrow and tapering and the axe is narrow and unlooped; The butt is broken. The axe has a well defined, rounded stop-ridge on both sides rising at right angles to the septum. The side flanges are damaged, particularly on one face where recent unpatinated damage shows that the flanges have recently broken off. The blade is narrow and trapezoidal, widening gently to the cutting edge, with little added flare to the tips. The blade faces of early midribbed palstaves generally have raised edges, as if continuing the line of flanges below the stop (see: "The Axes of Scotland and Northern England", Schmidt and Burgess, 1981, p.126) but this feature is not present on the palstave recorded here. There is no shield like depression below the stop. The patina inside the septum is a smooth and brown layer, the butt end of which has flaked off. The butt is damaged, but looks as if it would have been rounded. Compare NCL-8C1FE2 and LANCUM-D90642. Two Bronze Age spear heads are recorded on the West Yorkshire HER from the same neighbourhood as this palstave, but they are later in date, being from the Penard (1300 BC - 1140 BC) or Wallington 1140 BC - 1020 BC) traditions. They are PRN 2992 and PRN 4186. A cast copper alloy Palstave dating from the middle part of the Bronze Age (about 1700 BC - 1400 BC), the Arreton or Acton Park phase The palstave has an even green patina with pitting on the surface. The total (incomplete) length of the axehead is 132.6mm, with the blade (from the edge to the s... Copper alloy Cast BRONZE AGE BRONZE AGE -1700 -1400 44.1 132.6 20.3 Fair Incomplete 2012-01-31 11:04:50 WEST YORKSHIRE CALDERDALE BRIGHOUSE POINT( ) SE12SE SE1523 29.06.2003 Metal detector 1 SWYOR Creative Commons Non Commercial Share Alike - The Portable Antiquities Scheme 2012 These records can be reproduced in a non commercial enviroment as long as the original recorder is cited. The Portable Antiquities Scheme info@finds.org.uk No fees are applicable.