FLANGED AXEHEAD

A complete copper-alloy and tinned developed flat axe with hammer raised flanges of later Early Bronze Age date (c. 2000 - 1700 BC). The classification of the axe matches the descriptions and illustrations of the axe type Arreton which is dated to Early Bronze Age III, of metalworking stage V, which corresponds to Needham's (1996) Period 3 circa 2000 - 1700 BC.

The axehead is broadly sub rectangular in plan with a splayed crescent shaped blade. In profile it is broadly lentoid, with slight tapering edges. The axe is 122.85mm in length, 74.45mm wide and 16.65mm thick.

The butt of the axe curves towards the tip (2.45mm thick). The septum expands (slightly) from the butt toward the median bevel. The median bevel is slight being only slightly raised above the surface of the septum; the ridge is not especially prominent. Below the bevel the sides continue to expand. The edges / sides of the axe are bowed (D shaped) with convex edges. These edges are slightly faceted. The flanges are lozenge-shaped and are longer / higher toward the rear of the axe. The flanges are likely to have been raised rather than cast. In profile they are D shape and eroded projecting above the septum. They are highest at a point just behind the median ridge. At the base of the axe sides expand to produce a crescentic blade edge. The blade is 74.15mm wide and narrows from 8.85mm to 1.55mm at the cutting edge.

This example seems to fit best with the Arreton type (cf Burgess and Schmidt: Axes of Northern Britain pp65 - 75 specifically 409, 411 and 421). Burgess and Schmidt suggest from their study that the distribution of this Arreton type concentrates in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Their work though looks directly at the axes of Scotland and Northern England.