HANDAXE

Palaeolithic Acheulian chert handaxe of ficron type with an elongated tapering point and larger rounded butt.The point is formed with invasive shallow flaking and is pointed oval in cross section, more convex on one face than the other. There are several post deposition chips from the edges and the tip is missing to more recent damage. The point widens and thickens to the large rounded butt. The widening is a fairly consistant taper down the ficron with the widest point about three quarters of the way down the length. The thickness is more variable, one face appears almost complete and has the thickest point level with the widest point. The other face has some old damage, contemporary with or relatively soon after use and deposition including a pot lid fracture that has removed some of what should have been the thickest area.

The butt has a convex curved lower edge and is roughly D-shaped in section due to the damage on one face discussed above. Where undamaged the butt is shaped by shallow flake removals on both faces. A band of original cortex from the flint cobble runs through the butt, this follows the general shape of the edges and faces but there are large, natural indents on both faces. On the more complete face this is above the widest point; on the other face it is in the lower part and may have caused a weekness leading to the loss of some of the original surface to natural breaks, possibly even during working.

It has developed a thick recortecisation with orange iron staining. Some more modern damage goes through this surface to the chert beneath which is a mid-grey/brown in colour and probably greensand derived chert like that found locally in the Blackdown Hills (D. Parsons pers comm). This more recent damage also shows evidence of recortecisation and multiple hits giving an uneven surface. It is 112.9 mm long, 65.8mm wide, 31.2mm thick and weighs 190 grams.