AXE

A complete, but encrusted and corroded, iron axe head of possible Roman date. It has a curved and flaring blade that has a triangular longitudinal section. The axe expands to the poll end, which curves downwards, is flat and rectangular in form. The eye through which the axe would have originally have been hafted is oval with an integral projecting lug at the blade end on the upper surface. All surfaces of the axe show signs of extensive corrosive iron products and encrustation, but the axe appears complete. It measures 171mm in length, 40.09mm in width at poll end, 46.23mm in height at poll end, 73.31mm in height at blade end, and weighs 748g.

This is an iron axe of possible Roman date. It finds parallels in Manning's Type 4 axes (Manning, 1985: pp. 15-16, Fig. 3.4, pl. 7 nos. B5-B6) that he considers as the "Roman axe par excellence". These typically have backward sweeping blades, oval eyes and may occur with or without lugs, as on the current example. Furthermore, he notes they generally fall into two groups with a heavier axe weighing c.1.6kg and a lighter one weighing c.0.77kg, the current example falling just below the lighter weight. Interestingly, Manning notes the similarities with later Saxon Francisca axes, which probably derive from Roman examples, hinting at a possible later date for the current example. However, on the basis of its form, weight and other finds from the site a Roman date seems most plausible.