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POLISHED AXEHEAD
Unique ID: NLM-E0DAE4
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
Grey-green hard dense rough-textured gritty probably volcanic stone, polished axehead. The origin of the material is uncertain, probably from Western Britain - Cornwall, Wales and Scotland are among the possible sources, as might be glacial drift found locally but incorporating rocks from distant parts. The rough texture is markedly dissimilar to that of the frequently reported Group 6 axes.
The axehead is straight sided with a curved cutting edge which remains as sharp as its gritty material would permit. It is widest at the cutting edge, tapering thence to a rounded butt. The axehead is of an even rounded oval section when viewed from this end. However, behind the cutting edge, as the object narrows, a flattened facet appears along the upper and lower sides. These facets are the only points on the surface where the grittiness of the surface feels or appears even slightly moderated. The axehead is complete, with only a few light chips; whether ancient or recent is unknown. Suggested date: Neolithic, 4000-2350 BC.
Length: 126mm, Width (cutting edge): 64mm, Thickness: 33.8mm, Weight: c.385gms
Notes:
Stone of this rough texture was frequently used to make the massive 'axe hammers' and related objects ascribed to the Early Bronze Age. However, the form here follows that of a classic Neolithic polished axehead.
Mike Boyd, emeritus Keeper of Natural History for Hull Museum has kindly viewed the record though not the axe itself. With this important qualification regarding an object which has not been examined in thin section, he comments as follows: 'The, rather distinctive, nature of the weathering exhibited by the specimen is very reminiscent of that often seen in the well-known 'Bridlington-type' of stone axe. These latter, when sectioned, almost invariably turn out to be Cornish, and typically Group I (a uralitised gabbro whose precise source has not - to my knowledge - been located, but may lie in Mounts Bay). The flared cutting edge of the axe is not infrequently seen in the 'Bridlington-type' axes, but the butt is rather more squared-off than is usual in the (distinctly pointed-butted) Bridlington form. The profile ('lateral') view of the axe is very like that of the 'Bridlington-type' axe.
I should add that Cornish axes of Group I are not invariably of the 'Bridlington' form - so variations in shape do not necessarily rule out a Cornish (Group I) petrology'.
Class: probably Group 1
Subsequent actions
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 2350 BC
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 126 mm
Width: 64 mm
Thickness: 33.8 mm
Weight: 385 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 15th December 2016
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: NLM34829
Materials and construction
Primary material: Stone
Manufacture method: Ground/polished
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: Yorkshire and the Humber (European Region)County or Unitary authority: North Lincolnshire (Unitary Authority)
District: North Lincolnshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Hibaldstow (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SE9800
Four figure Latitude: 53.48759717
Four figure longitude: -0.52449049
1:25K map: SE9800
1:10K map: SE90SE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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