WREX-0612C5: Early Iron Age socket axe (Sompting (variant Cardiff II)) c. 800-600BC. Photograph by the finder.

Rights Holder: National Museum Wales
CC License:


Image use policy

Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).

SOCKETED AXEHEAD

Unique ID: WREX-0612C5

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Published Find published

Complete copper alloy Sompting Type (variant Cardiff II) socketed axe, dating from the Earliest Iron Age c. 800-600BC.  The axe has an almost square socket that appears to retain traces of a wooden haft.  The axe is broadly triangular in section and tapers to a flared convex cutting edge. There is a semi-circular loop near the socket rim on one side.  Only one face of the axe retains its original surface and this has three ribs the central one of which terminates in a pellet.   

The axe has a dark brown/green patina but is pitted and rough in places.

Length: 125mm; width of cutting edge: 68mm; thickness: 41mm; Weight: 480g

Notes:

The object has been recorded during the Covid-19 lockdown from photographs and details supplied by the finder.

The finder notes that the axe was found with the better preserved face uppermost.

Class: Sompting
Sub class: Cardiff II

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: IRON AGE
Period from: IRON AGE
Period to: IRON AGE
Date from: Circa 800 BC
Date to: Circa 600 BC

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 125 mm
Width: 68 mm
Thickness: 41 mm
Weight: 480 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Monday 8th June 2020 - Monday 8th June 2020

Personal details

This information is restricted for your access level.

Other reference numbers

Other reference: NWales PAS 200608

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Completeness: Complete

Spatial metadata

Region: Wales (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Powys (Unitary Authority)
District: Powys (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Llanfechain

Spatial coordinates


Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
Discovery circumstances: Found while metal detecting.

References cited

No references cited so far.

Similar objects

Find number: ESS-E372DB
Object type: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Broadperiod: IRON AGE
A fragment of a cast copper alloy socketed axe dating from the Early Iron Age, c. 800-600BC. The axe is of Type Sompting, Cardiff II Variant.…
Workflow: PublishedFind published

Find number: YORYM-7F630B
Object type: AXEHEAD
Broadperiod: IRON AGE
An incomplete cast copper-alloy socketed axehead very probably dating from the Early Iron Age, c. 800 - 600 BC. Sompting type, probably Kings…
Workflow: PublishedFind published

Find number: CPAT-5486C1
Object type: AXEHEAD
Broadperiod: BRONZE AGE
A cast copper alloy socketed axehead that in style, is consistent with the Sompting type with a prominent bulbous biconical collar with a hor…
Workflow: Awaiting validationFind awaiting validation

Timeline of associated dates

Audit data

Recording Institution: WREX
Created: 2 years ago
Updated: 5 months ago

Other formats: this page is available as qrcode json xml geojson pdf rdf representations.