Record ID: ESS-43E6D6
Object type: ADZE
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Lithic impliment: Mesolithic tranchet adze, dating 9000 to 6000 BC. There have been suggestions that tranchet adze continued in use into the Neolithic, however there is no direct evidence for this. The adze is an elongated oval in plan with a lenticular cross section with pointed edges. In profile the adze is sub-rectangular with elongated pointed blade end. The blade end shows no evidence of wear, however the blade end of adze could be restruck to form a new cutting edge. The rough shape of the adze was created using a hard hammer to remove the outer cortex of a flint nodule (however …
Created on: Monday 4th June 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-A66C20
Object type: ADZE
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Mesolithic flint adze dating 9000 to 6000 BC. The rough shape of the adze was created using a hard hammer to remove the outer cortex of a flint nodule, however large amount of natural cortex survives on one edge of the adze. This roughout was then further shaped using covering removals. The edge without cortex, and the blade end have semi-abrupt removals to further shape the adze. The surface of the adze is covered in removals with scars and some impact ripples present where flakes were removed from the surface. The adze is sub-rectangular in plan with a lenticular cross section with p…
Created on: Tuesday 3rd July 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
No spatial data available.

Record ID: ESS-851F72
Object type: ADZE
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Probably an unfinished Mesolithic adze. It is rectangular in plan with a sub-triangular cross section. Two of the sides are almost completely covered in natural brown cortex, which cointains some fossilised remains in the form of short, curved lines which are possibly from a sponge. The third side has had flakes removed from the surface in several different directions, many of which have left hinged or overshot terminations. The flint is dark grey-black in colour, with small patches of light grey. It is 113.97mm long, 40.85mm wide, 33.02mm thick and it weighs 228.77 grams.
Created on: Friday 17th April 2009
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-CE8605
Object type: ADZE
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Mezolithic knapped flint adze. The adze is sub-rectangular in plan being narrower at the butt end before a gentle increase in width to the blade end. It has an almost lozenge shaped cross section, which becomes sub-oval towards the blade end. The change in cross section is due to the removal of two transverse flakes on the latteral edge of the adze, which created the cutting edge. The cutting edge is damaged, with chips along its entire length, making it very irregular. The entire surface of the adze is covered in removals, with scaring and some impact ripples where the flakes were r…
Created on: Monday 7th June 2010
Last updated: Friday 27th August 2010
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Birch CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-046FF7
Object type: ADZE
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Mesolithic flint adze dating from circa 8000-3500BC. The object is triangular in section and has roughly parallel sides. The cutting end is rounded and the proximal end is flat. A biface with some cortex remaining on the dorsal surface. Length 84.25mm, width 42.48mm, thickness 24.48mm, weight 108.1g.
Created on: Wednesday 28th July 2010
Last updated: Tuesday 10th August 2010
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-295A75
Object type: ADZE
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Mesolithic (9000-6000BC) knapped flint adze. The adze is an elongated oval in plan with a lenticular cross section with pointed edges. In profile the adze is sub-trapezoid with an elongated pointed blade end, and the upper surface is concave. The blade is slightly damaged and worn. The rough shape of the adze was created using a hard hammer to remove the outer cortex of a flint nodule, however a small amount of natural cortex survives on the upper surface. This roughout was then further shaped using covering removals. The surface of the adze is covered in removals with scars and some i…
Created on: Thursday 20th March 2008
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Steeple CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-98FF03
Object type: ADZE
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Mezolithic knapped flint adze. The adze is sub-rectangular in plan with an almost triangular cross section, changing to a more lenticular cross section towards the blade end. The blade end is slightly damaged. The rough shape of the adze was created using a hard hammer to remove the outer cortex of a flint nodule. This roughout was then further shaped using covering removals. Further flakes were removed to narrow the adze and to create the cutting edge. The surface of the adze is covered in removals with scars and some impact ripples present where flakes were removed from the surface. …
Created on: Friday 22nd January 2010
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-35F9E7
Object type: ADZE
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete flint Mesolithic adze. The axe is small (98mm long and 44mm wide). It is 21mm thick and weights 97.4g. It has parallel sides, a rounded distal end and flat proximal end. There is bifacial working. The dorsal surface retains some cortex. The two medial edges and the distal end have been retouched to form a cutting edge. It has a slightly curved, sub-triangular cross. The flint is dark grey with an orange/brown patination.
Created on: Tuesday 7th July 2009
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-CE3E94
Object type: ADZE
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Lithic impliment: Mesolithic adze, dating 9000 to 6000 BC. There have been suggestions that tranchet adze continued in use into the Neolithic, however there is no direct evidence for this. The adze is sub-rectangular in plan with a lenticular cross section with pointed edges. In profile the adze is sub-triangular with elongated pointed blade end. The blade end is slightly damaged. The rough shape of the adze was created using a hard hammer to remove the outer cortex of a flint nodule. This roughout was then further shaped using covering removals. Further flakes were removed to narrow t…
Created on: Thursday 3rd January 2008
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'East of Colchester', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-132A4A
Object type: ADZE
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete Mesolithic flint tranchet adze. The flint is orange/brown in colour, with a darker area around the distal end Both faces are heavily worked. The adze is oval in section, though at points sub-triangular.
Created on: Thursday 21st April 2022
Last updated: Tuesday 24th May 2022
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Near Braintree', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-70BE1D
Object type: ADZE
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete Paeleolithic flint tranchet adze. Bifacially worked, but with a lot more removal scars on the ventral surface than the dorsal. The entire flint is pale grey in colour, with a darker grey patch on the proximal end. The adze is oval in section, though at points sub-triangular.
Created on: Tuesday 6th September 2022
Last updated: Tuesday 14th March 2023
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Near Colchester', grid reference and parish protected.