HANDAXE

A complete knapped flint Acheulean handaxe or biface of Lower Palaeolithic date, c. 500,000-250,000 BC. The object survives complete, although has evidently undergone some considerable exposure and post-depositional movement due to the degree of rolling, abrasion and incipient frost fractures visible on the object's surfaces. In plan view, the handaxe is broadly sub-ovate, with a pointed tip and butt. Bifacial heavily invasive soft-hammer removals cover most of the object, though the truncated ends of these indicate that the handaxe has been worked down intensively from its original form. The edges of the handaxe are extremely thick in places, and even accounting for rolling this is likely a factor relating to modification post-manufacture. In one area on the left side of the handaxe (when viewed from the less intensively worked side) an area of intense chipping seems to have taken place in an attempt to remove overhangs and trim back the edge in order to sharpen it, though this seems to have been unsuccessful. Bearing in mind the earlier suggestion that this piece was probably much larger than it appears now, this chipping probably reflected the final act of the user before the object was deposited, as it would have been practically useless with overly-thick edges that could not be sharpened further.

Measurements;
Maximum length (mm): 96.77
Maximum width: 64.93
Width 1/4 up piece (close to butt end): 50.58
Width 3/4 up piece (close to tip): 51.22
Thickness at butt: 13.44
Thickness at midpoint: 23.94
Thickness at tip: 9.93
Weight (g): 159.3