Rights Holder: Lincolnshire County Council
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HANDAXE
Unique ID: LIN-C9C4A8
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
A complete lower Palaeolithic, Acheulean, bifaced ovate flint hand axe. The axe is oval in plan, pointed oval in cross-section and has a flat striking platform at the base. Both sides display flake scars that generally run from the edge inwards. One side has three broad and long flake scars that run from the striking platform to just below the apex. The majority of these flake scars display a rust-orange colour patina. The flint is mottled cream colour.
The striking platform is roughly lozenge shaped and measures 38mm x 17mm.
Such hand axes were in widespread use from c.600,000 to 245,000 years ago in Britain although most finds date from 500-300,000 years ago corresponding to a period of warmer climate. They were produced by the hominid species Homo heidelbergensis. It has been suggested ovate hand axes were used more for cutting like a knife rather than as an axe.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: PALAEOLITHIC
Date from: Circa 500000 BC
Date to: Circa 300000 BC
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 71 mm
Width: 62 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Flint
Manufacture method: Knapped/flaked
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: East Midlands (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Lincolnshire (County)
District: South Kesteven (District)
To be known as: Ropsley
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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