SOCKETED AXEHEAD

A late Bronze Age socketed axe possibly of Type Portree or a variant, possibly Variant Kalemouth, as defined by Schmidt & Burgess (1981, p. 184-90) possibly dating to the transition of the Wilburton-Wallington and Ewart Park metalworking phases corresponding to Needham's (1996) Periods 6 to 7, c. 1150 -750BC.

The axe is of 'Baggy' form and is incomplete, missing the mouth and loop. The object is sub-rectangular in plan with the cutting edge expanding slightly outwards to form a convex cutting edge. The cutting edge is worn but complete and measures 39.35mm in width and is 3.76mm thick.

One side of the axehead and the socket mouth is incomplete and worn with the break probably occurring during antiquity. The remaining socket is sub-square measuring 27.29mm in width and 26.64mm thick. The socket is 41.11mm deep.

Along one side of the object is the remaining stub of an incomplete side loop. Below this a worn casting seem is visible. Each face is heavily pitted and undecorated however any existing decoration may have worn away due to corrosion and abrasion within the plough soil.

Dimensions: 64.60mm in length, 33.52mm in width, 25.26mm thick, 100.5g.

Notes: The truncated mouth makes precise typological identification difficult. The axe has the 'baggy' form, of types well represented in Ireland.

Similar examples which can be found on the database are NMGW-7399CD, https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/708969 and HESH-07A7E3, https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/264493.