AXEHEAD

An Early to Middle Neolithic polished stone axehead dating c. 4000-3300 BC.

This axehead has a pointed-oval cross section. One side edge has a slight flattened lateral facet, the opposing side edge having a subtler flattened lateral facet that could easily be missed during a very quick examination of this artefact thus giving the impression of a lateral rounded-pointed edge. The artefact weighs 290.74g, has a length of 126.5mm, maximum width of 60.5mm and maximum thickness of 31.7mm. The type of stone used to create this axehead has not yet been fully identified however the finder has been advised to request an appointment at the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, Downing Street, Cambridge in order to seek the expertise of a Geologist there. Mr Steve Critchley, Geologist, thinks that it might possibly be some sort of silicified volcanic ash, however this is not a Langdale axe, and that proper examination is required. There are some areas of damage of varing size. These areas of damage are indicated on the annotated image attached to this record. The largest area of damage ends in an abrupt narrow ledge, the inner junction of which currently contains a layer of graphite presumed to be present due to a pencil nib having been moved backwards and forwards within this feature of the axe. It was possible to remove a little of this graphite with an eraser however some remains.

See PAS record CAM-BAD957.