Record ID: DOR-03A27A
Object type: FLAT AXEHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete cast copper alloy flat axehead or chisel. There is some damage to the cutting edge and the butt. The butt is narrow and angled at the end. The axehead is elongated with long, low-flanged sides which flare out from the butt to the curved cutting edge. The flanges start at the butt and increase slightly in height to the mid.point of the axehead before decreasing in height until stopping around 1 cm from the cutting edge. The side profile is pointed oval. The transverse profile is a shallow H-shape. There is no evidence of a stop-ridge. The surfaces are all heavily pi…
Created on: Monday 18th December 2023
Last updated: Wednesday 31st January 2024
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-8CE34B
Object type: CHISEL
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete, cast, copper-alloy chisel or awl. A bar of copper alloy, sub-angular in cross section with a break at one and and a tapered and splayed working edge at the other. Date: Possibly Late Bronze Age - c. 1250 - 800 BC Length: 61.9 mm Width: 2.92 mm Thickness: 3.83 mm Weight: 3.49 g
Created on: Monday 6th November 2023
Last updated: Saturday 30th December 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-A990B5
Object type: SPEARHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete copper alloy projectile point. A small spearhead or large arrowhead. It is socketed with only part of the flaring socket remaining. The socket extends into the body of the object and appears to retain fibres in the solid filling it, possibly from the original wooden haft. The blades are short and leaf-shaped. There is a prominent, triangular mid rib along both faces, creating a lozengiform cross-section. The mid rib extends to the break at the tip. There is an area of modern damage to one face on the midrib . Date: Middle to Late Bronze Age  - c. 1550 …
Created on: Friday 21st July 2023
Last updated: Monday 16th October 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-D2EF2C
Object type: CHISEL
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete small copper alloy chisel or possibly a miniature flat axe. The object has a butt which tapers to a point and a flaring blade with a convex cutting edge which is chipped. It thickens from the butt to the centre and then thins to the cutting edge giving it a sub oval longitudinal profile. It is rectangular in its transverse cross section. Date: Bronze Age - c. 1100 - 800 BC Dimensions: 61.34 mm x 20.05 mm x 4.35 mm Weight: 11.29 g Similar objects can be found on the PAS database at: SF-81B0CD and DOR-D8751E
Created on: Monday 17th April 2023
Last updated: Saturday 2nd December 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: WILT-F34A7B
Object type: BLADE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a possibly Middle Bronze Age copper alloy blade, perhaps a rapier dating to c. 1400-1100 BC. Only a very small part survives, a sub rectangular piece with early breaks at both ends. It both tapers and narrows along its length. It has a mid green patina. A small triangular section of the outer surface is missing on one side, but this is probably damage or decay, not decoration. Dimensions:   20.8mm in length; 16.1mm in width tapering to 14.7mm; 3.1mm thick at the wider break; 2.4mm at the narrower end; 5.73g in weight
Created on: Monday 13th March 2023
Last updated: Monday 12th June 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-74DCBE
Object type: SPEARHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete cast copper alloy Middle Bronze Age socketed flame-shaped spearhead, 63.3mm in length and probably of Davis’ (2012) Group 6 (developed side-looped type), dating to the earlier Middle Bronze Age, c.1550 - 1250 BC. The socket is incomplete, 14.3mm in diameter and ends in an old break. The socket tapers seamlessly into a thick rounded midrib which runs to the blade tip. The cross section is lenticular with a clear distinction between rounded midrib and the narrow, rounded wings which taper to the tip with slightly concave sides on the fron…
Created on: Thursday 23rd February 2023
Last updated: Thursday 12th October 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-7468F4
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete Middle Bronze Age unlooped primary / early palstave of Group 1 (following Schmidt and Burgess 1981), 157mm in length. The palstave has a low stop (17.1 thick) fused with flanges along the sides which taper smoothly back to the butt providing a lenticular side profile. The blade is wedge-shaped, with slightly concave sides and flares to approximately 53.3mm in width at the rounded cutting edge. There are traces of midribs along the blade and possible traces of a shield decoration on one face to the front of the stop. The surface has mostly been lost.
Created on: Thursday 23rd February 2023
Last updated: Thursday 12th October 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-83DCA9
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete palstave axehead in two pieces. The palstave has kite-shaped flanges (incomplete) which taper towards the angled butt.The stop ridges are very slightly crescentic and the same height as the flanges. There is a hole created during casting at the interface of the septum and stop ridge on one face. The blade flares from the stop ridge and ends in a curved and slightly flared cutting edge which is assymetrical (probably due to damage). One face retains traces of trident pattern raised decoration (the other is obcured by corrosion). There are traces of casting ridges along bot…
Created on: Friday 6th January 2023
Last updated: Monday 23rd January 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-237307
Object type: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of copper alloy socketed axehead. The butt is missing. The axehead is narrow bladed with only a slight flare to the cutting edge. There are casting ridges along the sides. The socket is sub-angular at the break. The cutting edge is damaged and possibly re-shaped or worn, leaving it asymmetrical with a straight corner on one side and a rounded corner on the other. Date: Late Bronze Age Dimensions: 52.56 mm x 33.20 mm x 16.83 mm Weight: 66.33 g  
Created on: Thursday 8th December 2022
Last updated: Thursday 5th January 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-98CA8C
Object type: SWORD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a Middle to Late Bronze Age copper-alloy sword dating 1600-800 BC. It consists of a fragment of the blade. It is sub-rectangular in plan and lenticular in cross section. The edges are rounded and slightly jagged. The faces of the blade are plain. The fragment has straight transverse breaks on each end and there is a slight bend in the length , suggesting deliberate breakage prior to deposition (‘ritually killed’).  The fragmentary remains preclude typological designation so it is broadly dated from the Middle to Late Bronze Age. The o…
Created on: Friday 14th October 2022
Last updated: Monday 3rd April 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-4374E1
Object type: FLANGED AXEHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete copper alloy long flanged axehead. This axehead has a rounded arched butt and slightly diverging sides that abruptly expand to a broad crescentic blade and cutting edge, with the blade tips at right angles to the sides, but not recurving. Cast flanges extend along the sides,arching from the butt towards the middle of the axe and sloping down again to the blade expansion. This gives the axe a very shallow lenticular side profile. The flanges are slightly angled inwards on both faces. The axe has a very low ridge about two thirds of the way along the septum ( 42 mm f…
Created on: Monday 10th October 2022
Last updated: Tuesday 18th October 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-E83E4C
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete and heavily corroded cast copper alloy palstave axehead.The butt is missing following a recent break. The side flanges are largely missing to old breaks, but what remains suggests they were lozenge-shaped and low.. They taper in to form a V shaped ridge on both sides encompassing a low, rounded stop ridge.  There is a faint central ridge along one face of the blade. Beyond the flanges, the sides are narrowed and flare out to the cutting edge.. The axe tapers in cross section towards the flared cutting edge. The cutting edge is damaged and corroded, but appears t…
Created on: Thursday 6th October 2022
Last updated: Thursday 17th November 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-70BE68
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A very small fragment of the blade of a bronze axehead. A corner of the cutting edge. The fragment is wedge-shaped and curved along the cutting edge. The curvature suggests a fairly narrow blade. Possibly part of a palstave axehead. Date: Middle Bronze Age - c. 1600 - 1000 BC Length: 21.61 mm Width: 9.87 mm Thickness: 3.81 mm Weight: 3.05 g.
Created on: Monday 13th June 2022
Last updated: Wednesday 31st August 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-A5B077
Object type: FLAT AXEHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A copper alloy flat axehead. A very small, possibly miniature axehead. It has a tapering, rounded butt. It is slightly thickened at the mid-point (possibly a proto stop-ridge). It flares, initially gently and then is stepped out into a wide, curved cutting edge which is thinned from the thickened mid-point. Then cutting edge is blunt and rounded. The axe has a flat sub-rectangular cross section with rounded short edges. There are no evident raised flanges. There is wear and damage on all faces. Date: Early Bronze Age - c. 2000 - 1700 BC Dimensions: 61.28 mm x 24.92 mm x 8.35 mm …
Created on: Sunday 22nd May 2022
Last updated: Wednesday 8th June 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-BF8EF3
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A cast copper alloy palstave axehead.  The palstave has a narrow, squared butt flaring slightly to the stop ridge. The sides then narrow slightly beyond the stop ridges before flaring into a angle-sided, wedge-shaped blade with an asymmetrical, slightly curved cutting edge. The rear part of the axe (from the stop ridge to the butt) is sub-rectangular in plan and the side flanges of the butt are lozenge-shaped, tapering from the stop ridge to the end, The flange facets are fused to the stop ridge forming two raised elements to haft the axe by. The stop ridge is…
Created on: Tuesday 5th April 2022
Last updated: Thursday 6th October 2022
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Holwell', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: DOR-DD256B
Object type: SOCKETED AXEHEAD
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An complete cast copper alloy socketed axehead. The mouth of the socket is square with a thick exterior beaded collar around it. The body of the blade tapers from the mouth towards the blade in one plane, whilst it flares in the other into a curved, crescentic cutting edge. At one side, below the collar, is a large side loop on the longitudinal axis. The loop is D-shaped with an oval aperture. There are clear casting lines along the sides of the axehead. The sides of the body have two longitudinal facets flanking the casting ridges, giving the body an irregular hexagonal exterior prof…
Created on: Friday 25th March 2022
Last updated: Tuesday 3rd May 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-D8B5CD
Object type: GOUGE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete copper alloy socketed gouge. The remaining portion is a short length of the socket with a tapered U-shaped blade. The socket is oval in cross section with projecting ridges running down each side which are the remains of casting flashes. The object tapers in width and thickness from its socket to a rounded cutting/gouging edge which is concave on one of its surfaces. The gouging edge has worn well rounded chips at its tip. The casting lines are visible for the whole length of the object on both sides. The surface is greyish green, indicating a probable high tin alloy. …
Created on: Friday 25th March 2022
Last updated: Monday 4th April 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-D8751E
Object type: CHISEL
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete small copper alloy chisel or possibly a miniature flat axe. There is a break at the butt. The object has a tapered butt and a flaring blade with a convex cutting edge. It is thinned from the butt to the cutting edge giving it a wedge shaped longitudinal profile. It is rectangular in its transverse cross section. Date: Bronze Age - c. 1100 - 800 BC Dimensions: 52.47 mm x13.63 mm x 3.49 mm Weight: 9.89 g Similar to SF-81B0CD
Created on: Friday 25th March 2022
Last updated: Monday 4th April 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-9E51FB
Object type: KNIFE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete copper alloy probable tanged knife. The top of the rectangular tang has a transverse break with the remnant of a single, circular attachment hole in the centre. The tang has a rectangular cross section. Below the tang, the blade narrows and thickens slightly and the sides curve inwards before flaring out again to a wide, tongue-shaped terminal. The body of the blade has a wide central mid-rib on both faces. The mid-rib is parallel sided and has a ridge along each edge and one at the centre. It runs from below the rectangular top part down to the rounded end.The blade has…
Created on: Tuesday 22nd March 2022
Last updated: Wednesday 13th April 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-E0B67A
Object type: AWL
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete cast copper alloy awl or tracer. The awl has two distinct elements: A circular sectioned, cone-shaped end Awl) and and a flat, wedge-shaped, rectangular cross sectioned end (tracer). Date: Late Bronze - c. 1150 - 800 BC Dimensions: 52.58 mm x 7.04 mm x 4.76 mm Weight: 5.66 g There are several similar objects recorded on the PAS database. For example DOR-AD7774, DOR-79E277, SOM-D995B1, SOM-7C6ED1 and SOM-990775 in which Laura Burnett notes: Plain copper alloy awls are hard to date precisely but ones of this form are known to have been introduced in the Br…
Created on: Monday 6th December 2021
Last updated: Sunday 24th March 2024
Spatial data recorded.