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AXEHEAD
Unique ID: PUBLIC-8666A6
Object type certainty: Probably
Workflow
status: Published 
A fragment of a ground and polished stone axehead of Neolithic date. Theaxe is broken at the cutting edge and at the butt end. The surface of the axe is granular but smooth with a distinct blue green hue. The type of stone has not been identified. The handaxe is broadly crescentic in cross section, with the outer surface convex and the inner concave.
Grinding occurs after 4000 BC, so this axe is likely to have a date range of between 4000-2500 BC. Axes were ground using large stones used for the purpose. Grinding or polishing axes was a manfuacturing technique which produced less facets than knapping or chipping the stone, meaning that there would be less chance of breakage during use. However, a ground axe would also have been aesthetically pleasing and these objects almost certainly played a symbolic and ritual role in many Neolithic societies, and they would have been impressive and prestigious items to own. Ground axes were traded or exchanged over very long distances, and there are even examples known from Britain which, based on petrographic analysis, have been shown to have originated in the Alps. It is uncertain where this example originated from, but there are sources known from Ireland, North Wales and possibly more likely in this case, from Great Langdale in the Lake District.
Notes:
Found on the surface of the freshly raked field, early morning. In close proximity to some animal bones which had signs of processing and some large limestone pieces which were unusual in the clay and flint field. Blue colour of stone stood out very clearly.
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: with finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
Period from: NEOLITHIC
Period to: NEOLITHIC
Date from: Circa 4000 BC
Date to: Circa 2500 BC
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 71.5 mm
Width: 58.5 mm
Thickness: 34 mm
Weight: 220 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 20th October 2014
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Stone
Manufacture method: Ground/polished
Completeness: Fragment
Spatial metadata
County or Unitary authority: Oxfordshire (County)
District: Vale of White Horse (District)
To be known as: Lyford
Spatial coordinates
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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