CPAT-5EA735: Palaeolithic Handaxe

Rights Holder: Clywd-Powys Archaeological Trust
CC License:


Image use policy

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

HANDAXE

Unique ID: CPAT-5EA735

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Published Find published

This object is a Mode 2: Acheulian handaxe of the Lower Palaeolithic. Mode 2 tools being worked symmetrically on both sides indicating greater care in the production of the final tool. The axe is a pointed oval shape and bifacially worked. It is made from a grey cream mottled flint, now patinated with orange/ochre. All the edges are clearly worked and there appears to be a small section of cortex (or an inclusion) on the centre of one face. The smooth polished surface of the axe is the result of having been abraded over the millennia. It has the classic gravel staining of having been in ancient river gravels and then subsequently heavily water rolled (Walker, E pers. comm., 2007).

Notes:

It was found on a track and it is possible that the handaxe was transported to this location with the gravel used in the construction of this track.

Find of note status

This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.

Class: Acheulian

Chronology

Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: PALAEOLITHIC
Date from: Circa 5000000 BC
Date to: Circa 180000 BC

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 82.5 mm
Width: 58.3 mm
Thickness: 25.5 mm
Weight: 110 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 1st January 1989

Personal details

This information is restricted for your access level.

Materials and construction

Primary material: Flint
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Complete

Spatial metadata

Region: Wales (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Powys (Unitary Authority)
District: Powys (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Cadfarch (Community)

Spatial coordinates

4 Figure: SH7902
Four figure Latitude: 52.602271
Four figure longitude: -3.788082
1:25K map: SH7902
1:10K map: SH70SE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Other chance find
General landuse: Grassland, Heathland
Specific landuse: Heathland

References cited

Author Publication Year Title Publication Place Publisher Pages Reference
Barton, N. 1997 English Heritage Book of Stone Age Britain London Batsford 20-21, Fig. 8

Similar objects

Find number: CAM-027416
Object type: HANDAXE
Broadperiod: PALAEOLITHIC
A Palaeolithic flint handaxe. The axe is 122mm long and 90mm wide. Its thickness is 28mm and its weight is ?g. It is ovate or cordate in shap…
Workflow: PublishedFind published

Find number: KENT-D70DA1
Object type: HANDAXE
Broadperiod: PALAEOLITHIC
A heavily rolled ovate bifacial handaxe dating from the Palaeolithic period. The axe is sub-cordate in plan with a relatively wide flat butt.…
Workflow: PublishedFind published

Find number: DOR-CAC6C5
Object type: HANDAXE
Broadperiod: PALAEOLITHIC
A complete, small, bifacially worked, flint handaxe of cordate type. The handaxe was found on a beach and consequently is rolled and abraded …
Workflow: PublishedFind published

Timeline of associated dates

Audit data

Recording Institution: CPAT
Created: 15 years ago
Updated: 9 years ago

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