PALSTAVE

An incomplete cast copper alloy (bronze) palstave of Middle Bronze Age dating (c.1500 to c. 1150 BC).

The palstave has a shield shaped pattern below the stop ridge, and raised flange facets. The blade of the palstave is sub-triangular in plan, with convex expanding sides, and a convex cutting edge. In profile the blade is sub-triangular with the widest section being before the stop ridge. The blade (measured from the cutting edge to the stop ridge) is 99.76mm long and the width of the cutting edge is 67.67mm. The thickness of the blade is 15.28mm (measured at a point below the stop ridge; the width at this point is 29.36mm). Beneath the stop-ridge, on both sides of the palstave, is an concave depression, which is bordered by raised ridges. This is broadly sub-rectangular (U-shaped) and is probably an area of decoration, usually described as shield shaped.

The rear part of the axe (from the stop ridge to the butt) is sub-rectangular in plan and sub-triangular in section (profile), with the widest part behind the stop ridge. At the stop ridge, the palstave measures 71.91mm and 25.65mm wide. The septum (the area between the flange facets and the stop ridge) is 71.95mm long, 18.39mm wide and 9.89mm deep. The butt of the axe has been damaged and is incomplete. The width at the butt is 19.07mm. The flange facets are fused to the stop ridge, forming two raised elements to haft the axe by.

The palstave has a total length of 172mm, a maximum width of 67.81mm and is 32.58mm thick. It weighs 487.8 grams.

The palstave is a mid brown to mid green colour with a thick uneven surface patina which covers part of the surface of the axe. In a number of places the patina has been removed by abrasion. The palstave has been varnished by the finder to reduce the potential of active copper corrosion (bronze disease) from occurring.

Similar examples to this palstave can be seen in: Savory, 1980; Catalogue of the Bronze Age collections in the National Museum of Wales; Fig 19-21 specifically example 144 from Llanguirig, Montgomeryshire (Powys). This form and style of palstave fits into the local Acton Park metal working tradition which is dated to the first phase of the Middle Bronze Age (MBA I) 1450-1250 BC.