PALSTAVE

An incomplete cast copper alloy palstave of South Western type dating from the Taunton phase (c.1400-1275 BC) of the Middle Bronze Age.

The palstave has worn high side flanges with long extensions, although it is unclear where their highest point would have been thanks to damage. There is a thick central midrib, which measures 3.7mm in width and 45.2mm in length. The squared-off stop ridge produces a rectangular aperture in plan and the worn down side flanges are lozenge-shaped in profile.The flared cutting edge has been badly damaged, and is now truncated across its surface, with the damage having removed the top layer of bronze and exposed the centre of the palstave. This damage is significantly worse on the lower surface, which is also badly damaged around the area of the flanges which are now far lower than they are on the other side. The rib is similarly damaged on this side. One of the small benefits of this damage is that the lighter golden bronze of the surface appears at points of abrasion, while the remainder of the object is a darker brown in colour. However, the significant damage to the stop ribs on both sides makes close identification difficult, and it is possible that side loops may have been present and are now missing.

Pearce (1983, no. 217b) presents a similar example from Colyton in Devon. CORN-08673C is a further similar example, albeit with a slightly broader flaring cutting edge and clearly present side loops.

Measurements: 134.6mm length, 44.4mm wide, 7.7mm thick, weight >200g.