GLO-555AFD: GLO-555AFD Palaeolithic Handaxe

Rights Holder: Bristol City Council
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HANDAXE

Unique ID: GLO-555AFD

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation

Lower Palaeolithic, chert handaxe. This is a 'ficron' type handaxe which belongs to the Middle Acheulian tradition. The axe is sub-triangular in plan, with straight sides, a slightly rounded tip and a flat butt. The flat butt has been created by removing a single large flake from the ventral side, this maybe a later feature as the patina that has formed on this scar is a much lighter creamy-brown compared to the rest of the axe. There are multiple large flaking scars covering both the dorsal and ventral sides with slightly finer flake removal along the edges. The whole artefact has a mid-brown colour which is slightly darker on the dorsal side. The condition of the flint is excellent.

The Acheulian period spans from c.600, 000 to 245,000 years ago in Britain although most finds of this type date from 500,000-250,000 years ago corresponding to a period of warmer climate. They were produced by the hominid species Homo heidelbergensis.

Find of note status

This is a find of note and has been designated: National importance

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 250000 BC

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 135 mm
Width: 75 mm
Thickness: 49 mm
Weight: 433 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Monday 1st June 2015 - Saturday 1st August 2015

Personal details

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Materials and construction

Primary material: Flint
Manufacture method: Knapped/flaked
Completeness: Complete

Spatial metadata

Region: South West (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Somerset (County)
District: West Somerset (District)
Parish or ward: East Quantoxhead (Civil Parish)

Spatial coordinates

4 Figure: ST1344
Four figure Latitude: 51.18857902
Four figure longitude: -3.24627174
1:25K map: ST1344
1:10K map: ST14SW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Coastland
Specific landuse: Above high water

References cited

No references cited so far.

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Timeline of associated dates

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Audit data

Recording Institution: GLO
Created: 8 years ago
Updated: 8 years ago

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