AXEHEAD

A flint Neolithic partially polished axehead dating to the period c. 3500 - 2200 BC. The axehead exhibits a narrow butt and a lenticular cross-section with facetted sides. It measures 136.17mm in length, 44.92mm maximum width, 13.72mm in width at the butt end, 41.38mm in width at the blade end, 27.35mm maximum thickness, 0.63mm minimum thickness and weighs 200.53g.

The butt is rounded with flaking scars evident across both surfaces, all of which are patinated. The axehead is lenticular in cross section with facetted sides which have been heavily polished along their entire length. Both faces are convex and exhibit some flaking scars. Both faces have been partially polished along the length, with the polishing becoming more uniform towards the blade end. The axehead tapers in thickness towards the curved blade end. The cutting edge is intact except for two small nicks, which appears to have been caused during usage as it exhibits the same patination as the rest of the object. The axehead is slightly asymmetrical in shape, with one side being slightly curved and the other much straighter. Similarly, the cutting edge is asymmetrical. This may be due to subsequent polishing due to use, this suggestion is further evidenced by the fact that faceted edge adjacent to the repolished area is curved in contrast to the flat facted edge on the other side of the cutting edge.

The flint is a mottled light grey to off-white colour and is heavily recorticated.