FLAT AXEHEAD

Copper alloy flat axe of early Bronze Age date (c.2200 to 1900BC). The flat axe is broadly sub rectangular in plan with a splayed crescent shaped blade. In profile it is broadly lentoid, with slight tapering edges. In cross section the axe is D shaped with one edge displaying a distinctive curved (domed edge) whilst the opposite is relatively flat. It is likely that this is caused by the axe being cast in an open stone mould. The butt is relatively thin having a narrow sub-rounded profile; the width at the butt is 16 mm. The sides of the axe gently expand in width from the butt to the blade; in shape they are relatively flat. There is no evidence of the long edges being raised to form flanges. The sides of the blade expand to produce a crescentic blade edge with an abraded width of 36.1mm. A distinct blade facet is present and exhibits evidence of re-sharpening by hammering creating a distortion of the blade edges. There is no evidence of any form of incised or cast decoration present on any surface of the axe. Casting 'flaws' or air bubbles are present over most of the surface of the flat axehead.

The axe is a mid to dark green colour, with an even surface patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the ploughsoil, has resulted in a loss of some of the original surface detail. It measures 70.5mm in length, maximum width at the blade is 36.1mm, width at the butt is 13.2mm and it has a maximum thickness of 8.5mm. It weighs 56.5 grams.

The axehead is best described as coming from the first phases of the Early Bronze Age and is comparable to (although not containing all the attributes of Migdale axes many of these tend to have narrower butts which flare at the cutting edge and the flaring is very pronounced on this example. It is closest in style to the Biggar variants of the Migdale type axes (Schmidt & Burgess, 1981, 46-47), although it is smaller than other recorded examples. This variant tends to have a relatively narrow butt and widened blade, straight or concave sides which diverge towards the cutting edge. Variant Biggar show a relatively narrow butt, which in many cases is characteristically flattened, less rounded than in Migdale axes. The butt therefore has a more squarish appearance. Below the butt the sides do not diverge immediately, but run parallel for at least one third of their overall length. Cutting edge is often flatter, less rounded than is the case with Type Migdale proper. It is never recurved, and very rarely strongly tipped.

These axes all fit within the earliest phases of metal working in Britain, metalworking stage II, which corresponds to Needham's (1996) Period 2 circa 2350- 2050 CAL. BC. This means that they are dated, broadly, to the same period as Beaker pottery, barbed and tanged flint arrowheads, copper halberds and gold lunulae. This example is not one of the earliest types of Migdale axes due to the flared blade and central thickening, which were improvements on the earliest types and shares similarities with later Arreton axes.

The axehead is similar on the database to LVPL-DA4598 and shares similarities on the blade and profile with LVPL-CCFB76 but that one is slightly flanged on the edges. The axe also shares similarities with LEIC-2BE776

Reference:

Needham, S. (1996) Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age. Acta Archaeologia, vol 67, pp121-140

Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C.B. 1981. The Axes of Scotland and Northern England. Prahistorische Bronzefunde. Abteilung IX. Band 7. C.H. Beck'Sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Munchen. p.46-47.