Rights Holder: Hampshire Cultural Trust
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MINIATURE OBJECT
Unique ID: HAMP-7C08D9
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A Roman (AD 43-410) copper alloy miniature object in the form of an Iron Age or Romano British socketed axehead. It is incomplete in so far as the 'cutting edge' appears to be damaged. It is of Robinson's Type II with an expanding, straight-sided profile and somewhere between 'long-bladed' and 'short and stubby'.
The 'socket' end is square-ish in cross-section (measuring 11.8x11.3mm) and uneven in shape - being narrower at the loop end. The central oval 'socket' measures 5.2x5.0mm and is 5.1mm deep.
The loop extends in a C-shape from just below the mouth of the axe to close to close to the 'cutting edge' of the blade, along one side of the object.
The socket area, which takes up c.11mm of the length of the object, is rather bulbous and rouded compared to the narrower blade below. The blade when viewed in profile is triangular in cross-section and 6.1mm thick below the socket, narrowing to 2.6mm at the cutting edge.
In shape, the axehead is parallel-sided at the socket-end, before flaring below to 17.7mm at the cutting edge. At the centre is a triangular notch, presumably old-ish damage as it is patinated over. The surface of the axehead is rather pitted and worn.
The object measures 26.0mm in length, 20.6mm in max.width (width at loop), 11.3mm in max thickness ('socket' end) and weighs 16.47g.
Notes:
Robinson dates the majority of the miniature axeheads to the Roman period, some being from Late Roman contexts. However some are known too from the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age.
Find of note status
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 43
Date to: Circa AD 410
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 26 mm
Width: 20.6 mm
Thickness: 11.3 mm
Weight: 16.47 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 2nd December 2014 - Tuesday 3rd March 2015
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: Hampshire Cultural Trust Entry Form 4247
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Hampshire (County)
District: Test Valley (District)
To be known as: Nether Wallop
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robinson, P. | 1995 | Miniature socketed bronze axes from Wiltshire | Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society. | nos.6-9 |
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