Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
HANDAXE
Unique ID: WILT-EEFB94
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
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, 19.83mm minimum width, 35.62mm maximum thickness, 4.44mm minimum thickness and weighs 292.29g.
The handaxe is sub-cordate in shape with a reversed S-shape profile. It has been bifacially flaked using a soft hammer and retains c. 15% cortex visible in two places. Uneven recortication is visible across both surfaces. One patch of cortex is on one face near the butt end, the other patch is along one mesal edge, again, near the butt end. The butt end appears to have been deliberately blunted by flaking in order to make it easier to hold.
The flint is a mottled buff-grey in colour with patches of iron staining visible on both faces.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
Period from: PALAEOLITHIC
Period to: PALAEOLITHIC
Date from: Circa 500000 BC
Date to: Circa 150000 BC
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 115.21 mm
Width: 83.73 mm
Thickness: 35.62 mm
Weight: 292.29 g
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: WHM 2015-2
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: Savernake (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SU2164
Four figure Latitude: 51.374671
Four figure longitude: -1.69968475
1:25K map: SU2164
1:10K map: SU26SW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: WILT-660D5C
Object type: HANDAXE
Broadperiod: PALAEOLITHIC
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 …
Workflow: Published
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
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
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