Rights Holder: Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
HANDAXE
Unique ID: WILT-660D5C
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
A flint Lower Palaeolithic handaxe dating to the period c. 500,000 - 150,000 BC. The handaxe is sub-cordate in shape and has been bifacially flaked using alternate flaking. It has a reversed S-shape profile. Approximately 15% cortex remains across both surfaces and uneven recortication is also visible on both surfaces. The handaxe shows evidence of rolling and iron staining. There is some recent damage at the distal end which is visible as unpatinated chips, along with older damage down both mesal edges.
The handaxe measures 106.79mm in length, is 81.69mm maximum width, 15.49mm minimum width, 34.14mm thick and weighs c.313.00g.
Notes:
The patination and feel of the artefact combined with the location of the findspot on a gravel path suggests that this find has been imported to the area during road or construction work and has been removed from its original place of deposition during gravel extraction. It is likely that the artefact does not originate from the area where it was found.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: PALAEOLITHIC
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: PALAEOLITHIC
Date from: Circa 500000 BC
Date to: Circa 150000 BC
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 106.79 mm
Width: 81.69 mm
Thickness: 34.14 mm
Weight: 313 g
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: SSWM 4079
Materials and construction
Primary material: Flint
Manufacture method: Knapped/flaked
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
District: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Amesbury (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SU1142
Four figure Latitude: 51.17713172
Four figure longitude: -1.84402205
1:25K map: SU1142
1:10K map: SU14SW
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: WILT-EEFB94
Object type: HANDAXE
Broadperiod: PALAEOLITHIC
A flint Lower Palaeolithic handaxe dating to the period c. 500,000 - 150,000 BC. It measures 115.21mm in length, 83.73mm maximum width, 19.83…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: SF-F66356
Object type: HANDAXE
Broadperiod: PALAEOLITHIC
A complete Lower Palaeolithic handaxe dating to circa 500,000 to 150,000 BC. It is sub-cordate in plan and bificially flaked multi-directional…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: WILT-5F0EF3
Object type: HANDAXE
Broadperiod: PALAEOLITHIC
A flint Lower Palaeolithic handaxe dating to the period c. 500,000 - 150,000 BC. The handaxe is cordate in shape and has been bifacially flak…
Workflow: Published
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618