SOM-250DFF: Palaeolithic handaxe

Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
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HANDAXE

Unique ID: SOM-250DFF

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation Find awaiting validation

A bifacially worked Lower Palaeolithic chert handaxe, dating to the period c. 500,000-150,000 BC. It is ovate in form, lenticular in cross section and has a slight reversed 'S' profile. It has been struck from an orange/brown chert that has extensive dark orange patination. Both faces have covering, scaled, semi-abrupt flaking. One face exhibits old damage in the form of a chip. The other face exhibits a large area where more recent damage has occured, evidenced by a break in the patination.

The handaxe measures 141.36mm in length, 92mm at its widest, 37.98mm in thickness and weighs 597g.

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: PALAEOLITHIC
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: PALAEOLITHIC
Date from: Circa 500000 BC
Date to: Circa 150000 BC

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 141.36 mm
Width: 92 mm
Thickness: 37.98 mm
Weight: 597 g

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Other reference: SHC receipt no. 017192

Materials and construction

Primary material: Flint
Completeness: Incomplete

Spatial metadata

Region: South West (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Somerset (County)
District: Sedgemoor (District)
To be known as: Enmore

Spatial coordinates


Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Other chance find
General landuse: Other
Specific landuse: Garden

References cited

No references cited so far.

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Timeline of associated dates

Audit data

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

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