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Socketed axehead
Unique ID: NMGW-388961
Object type certainty: Certain
Complete, but damaged Late Bronze Age plain socketed axe-head. The axe is comparatively long and slender in form. The mouth is somewhat circular, but the socket profile is sub-square and the axe has a sub-rectangular body section. The collar is simple and flared with no mouldings. The mouth-edge surface no longer survives, but the axe was likely to have been cast using a two-runner casting technique. The loop (now broken) is slight and of oval-section, springing from the underside of the collar, and gently arcs back to the side. The sides are straight or slightly concave before they recurve to the blade end. The casting seams are clear on both sides and have been neatly finished, probably by abrasion. The blade end has been damaged, but would have been expanded and curved. Both faces have clear hammered-marks on the lower third of the axe. Sharpening striations running along the blade edge are visible on both faces. One face has many striations running along the length of the axe, but it is unclear if these are deliberate or from antiquity. The axe is in comparatively good condition with a dark green patina, but with areas of damage at the mouth and blade. The top of the axe has a patchy black coating or deposit, possibly tenorite.
Notes:
The axe is likely to be an early socketed axe, probably of Wilburton type and metalworking tradition, and dating to c. 1100 – 950BC. Mineralised wood deposits were removed from the socket and retained at NMGW.
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: Circa 1100 BC
Date to: Circa 950 BC
Dimensions and weight
Length: 109.6 mm
Width: 43.3 mm
Thickness: 30.3 mm
Weight: 199.5 g
Quantity: 1
Materials and construction
Manufacture method: Cast [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Spatial data
Region: Wales
County: Monmouthshire
District: Monmouthshire
Parish: Tintern
Restricted 4 Figure grid reference: SO5200
The map has been degraded and provides an approximate location with a degree of random obfuscation.
Grid reference source: From finder
Grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
Method of discovery: Metal detector
[scope notes]
General landuse: Woodland [scope notes]
Specific landuse: Unknown [scope notes]
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 1st January 2002
Personal details
Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Identified by: Mr Mark Lodwick - [view all attributed records]
Other reference numbers
Other reference: NMGWPA 2003.212
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Audit data
Created:
Tuesday 25th November 2003
Updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
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