Record ID: ESS-A3B46D
Object type: TRANCHET AXEHEAD
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete flint probable tranchet axe of Mesolithic date (c.10,000-4000BC). Description: The object is sub-rectangular in plan and broadly oval in cross section. It has a blunt, roughly flattened butt and sharp, rounded distal end which has some later damage on one side. It is bifacially worked with invasive, scaled, semi-abrupt retouch producing large scars. The object is translucent mottled grey and the dorsal face has light grey patination. Measurements: Length: 96mm; width: 45.4mm; thickness: 28.5mm; weight: 150.24g.
Created on: Monday 12th February 2024
Last updated: Tuesday 2nd April 2024
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-047554
Object type: LITHIC IMPLEMENT
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete worked flint hand tool of probable Mesolithic date (c.10,000-4,000BC) Description: The object is broadly rectangular in plan and oval in cross section. It has been produced from a secondary flake of dark grey flint with white patches and flecks as well as some translucent brown areas, on the dorsal face there are also some small areas of cortex with small iron deposits visible. The ventral face has invasive, scaled, semi-abrupt retouch on its surface and a possible striking platform at the proximal end. The dorsal face …
Created on: Monday 18th December 2023
Last updated: Wednesday 24th January 2024
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-F20106
Object type: AXEHEAD
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete flint axehead, of probable Mesolithic to Neolithic period (10000BC - 2351BC) Description: The object is lenticular in plan, sub triangular in cross section. One face has a convex curve, the other is higher and angled. The flint is mostly of a light orange brown colour, with some patches of cream and light grey, it has a shiny surface. Similar in profile to a tranchet axe, with hard removal of large flakes that have been struck from the lateral edge near the blade . Some smaller hard-hammer flakes have been removed along both edges. The working edge is ha…
Created on: Wednesday 30th August 2023
Last updated: Monday 4th September 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-ABC728
Object type: MICROBURIN
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete flint microburin, debitage from flint knapping, of Mesolithic date  (c. 10,000 BC - 4000 BC). Description: The object is broadly triangular in plan and cross section. It is made from a secondary flake of medium brown translucent flint with cream coloured cortex along the left side. It has a flat proximal end with striking platform and a right diagonally-pointing distal end, snapped to create a transverse end. Short, abrupt retouching is visible on the right edge from the dorsal face and some on the ventral.  Measurements: T…
Created on: Tuesday 27th June 2023
Last updated: Tuesday 27th June 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-B6A1A6
Object type: BLADE
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete knapped blade of mesolithic date (c. 9000-4000 BC). Description: The object is broadly rectangular in plan and triangular in section. It is made from black coloured flint with a small area of white powdery appearance on the dorsal face. The ventral surface is smooth with some visible ripples. The dorsal face is slightly curved and has short, parallel, abrupt retouch on all sides which shows some signs of wear.  Dimensions: length 69mm, width 24.7mm, thickness 5.8mm, weight 10.94g.
Created on: Monday 22nd May 2023
Last updated: Monday 11th September 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-356F58
Object type: TRANCHET AXEHEAD
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete workd flint 'Thames Pick' type Tranchet axe of Mesolithic date (c. 9000-3300BC). Description: The axehead is irregularly pointed oval in plan and curved in profile with a pointed butt and blade end and a waisted mid-section . It is roughly lozenge-shaped in cross-section along its entire length. The dorsal face is light brown to cream while the ventral face is dark grey with a large area of light cream cortex remaining. There are large, abrupt removals to the blade end and smaller semi-abrupt removes to the but end. Measurements: …
Created on: Tuesday 16th May 2023
Last updated: Tuesday 16th May 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-081934
Object type: TRANCHET AXEHEAD
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A flint 'Thames Pick' type Tranchet axe of Mesolithic date (c. 9000-3300BC). Description: The axehead is irregularly pointed oval in plan with a pointed butt and blade end and a waisted mid-section when viewed in profile. It is roughly lozenge-shaped in cross-section along its entire length. The upper face has had large flakes removed around its edge extending outwards and including the blade. This side of the blade is more heavily worked with the removal of flakes making this side of the blade more angular. At the butt end on this …
Created on: Tuesday 14th March 2023
Last updated: Wednesday 15th March 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-713B2D
Object type: BLADE
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A thin flint blade of Mesolithic or Neolithic date, 53.97mm in length and struck from a grey flint. The blade has a thin trapezoidal cross section. There is no retouch.
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.

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-8C5DD7
Object type: LITHIC IMPLEMENT
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Lithic implement of dark grey to black coloured flint. Likely a scraper of Mesolithic date. The item is made from a flake and is knapped on both the dorsal and ventral faces, though more so on the dorsal. The latter face has two distinctive linear flake removals as well as two thinning removals along the left edge. The ventral face shows the bulb of percussion of the flake, which terminates at the distal end in a curving hinge fracture, suggesting that the flake was removed with some force. There appears to be thinning removal flakes on the right edge (viewed ventrally) and bluntin…
Created on: Tuesday 18th June 2019
Last updated: Wednesday 26th June 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-8C3811
Object type: LITHIC IMPLEMENT
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Worked lithic implement of Mesolithic date, in the form of a bifacially knapped axehead. The flint is a dark grey and beige colour with light gre inclusions. There is some iron staining on the arrises of both faces. The butt portion is thinned almost to a point, which may have been used as a pick or for hafting. Both faces show invasive flake removals across their entire surfaces, with no remaining cortex visible. The blade edge or distal edge is thinned by a series of oblique removals particulaly visble on one face in particular. There is some crushing along the edges of the im…
Created on: Tuesday 18th June 2019
Last updated: Monday 30th September 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-457969
Object type: LITHIC IMPLEMENT
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Southend-on-Sea
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Lithic implement, likely a scraper, of light grey flint. The item is roughly square shaped and trapezoidal in section. The ventral face features a prominent bulb of percussion, whilst the dorsal face shows flake removals across much of the surface. A removal along the distal edge (viewed dorsally) allow it to slop downward, ending in a sharp edge. There also appears to be a similar removal on the right edge, whilst the left side also slopes to a sharp edge. There appears to be some iron staining along parts of the arrises of the dorsal face. Dimensions: weight: 4.30g, length: 24…
Created on: Monday 15th April 2019
Last updated: Monday 15th April 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-A38F0D
Object type: ASSEMBLAGE
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An assemblage of lithic artefacts found within an approximate 0.25km2 area. Many of the flints appear to be similar in form, colour and manufacture process and so it is suggested that the majority of them are representative of an assemblage from a single occupation site. This does not suggest that they originate from the same deposition sequence or event, but that they are broadly similar in form to suggest a Mesolithic date across the assemblage. For ease of explanation, the assemblage has been separated into lithics of a specific form or suggested function. Hammerstone…
Created on: Thursday 14th March 2019
Last updated: Monday 15th April 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-A45E87
Object type: LITHIC IMPLEMENT
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Flint blade of Mesolithic date. The blade is is struck and appears to show no edge retouch, though remains extremely sharp. The butt portion of the dorsal face is faceted, suggesting thinning or the preparation of a striking platform. The ventral face is smooth and the butt portion shows the bulb of percussion. The proximal portion of the blade ends in what appears to be a hinge fracture and not a break. The flint is a dark brown colour with few inclusions.
Created on: Saturday 2nd March 2019
Last updated: Monday 4th March 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-8AE954
Object type: TRANCHET AXEHEAD
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Flaked axe of Mesolithic date. The item is sub-rectangular in shape with a rounded cutting edge. It is bifacial, having been worked extensively across both faces, with a small portion of cortex remining in the centre of the axe on once face. Both faces feature fracture patterns suggestive of hard hammer technique, with multiple removals being hinged or stepped, suggesting indelicate work. There is retouch along most of edge, though it is generally reserved to one face. The face with the remaining cortex features thin discoidal removal scares at the distal or cutting edge. The…
Created on: Wednesday 26th July 2017
Last updated: Wednesday 22nd November 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-383E93
Object type: LITHIC IMPLEMENT
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Microlithic flint flake point, likely Mesolithic in date. The implement is triangular in shape with a triangular cross-section. The width increased from the butt as the item tapers to a sharp point at the tip. The dorsal face features a single central arris, with a removal, possibly accidental, toward the butt. The flake is tertiary, and was likely struck from a platform core. The ventral face shows distinct percussive ripples, emanating from what would have been the point of percussion which would have formed a bulb of percussion close to there the butt of the flake is. The fac…
Created on: Monday 10th July 2017
Last updated: Friday 14th July 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-37DE39
Object type: LITHIC IMPLEMENT
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Tip of a flint flake scraper, with evidence of burning. The item is sub-triangular in shape, and appears to be missing the lower (butt) portion. The flint is a dark cream colour. It is likely Mesolithic in date. The dorsal face is concave on the lower portion, and the surface of the flint is rough and dulled. The ventral face is convex and is formed of a smoother surface. There is a mottled dark grey/brown patch on the left side of the proximal (butt) end, which likely shows evidence of fire or heat damage. Likewise, the same area on the opposite face is lighter in colour, p…
Created on: Monday 10th July 2017
Last updated: Friday 14th July 2017
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'South Woodham Ferrers', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-3760A8
Object type: LITHIC IMPLEMENT
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Mesolithic backed flint flake blade. The item is sub-triangular in shape and is made from a struck flint flake. The ventral side shows evidence of a bulb of percussion at the butt, though it is not diffuse, and so it likely to have been struck through soft hammer technique. There is some small scale retouch along the tip edge of the ventral face, but most of the working is on the dorsal face. The dorsal face of the flake blade shows a central arris and some smaller ridges near to the butt. These removals close to the butt were probably done to facilitate the preparation of t…
Created on: Monday 10th July 2017
Last updated: Friday 14th July 2017
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'South Woodham Ferrers', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-DF68E9
Object type: LITHIC IMPLEMENT
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: West Sussex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Flint flake blade with the distal end broken off. There is a small bulb of percussion on the ventral face at the proximal end, which is narrower than the distal. The blade widens toward the distal end. The bulb is not significantly diffuse which suggests that it was knapped with soft hammer technique. The dorsal face shows two distinct arrises, with some more faceting toward the proximal end. Both edges have been finely retouched to create a sharp edge. Based on the form of the item, it is likely Mesolithic in date (c. 10000 - 4001 BC) The flint is varying colours of grey, thoug…
Created on: Monday 24th April 2017
Last updated: Wednesday 10th May 2017
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Middleton-on-Sea', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-470D17
Object type: LITHIC IMPLEMENT
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A broken flint flake piece from the proximal end of a knapped implement. The item is sub-circular with a clean break at towards the distal end where the tip of the flake has broken off. The flake is a deep brown flint with inclusions of ligh grey and beige coloured flint. The ventral face shows the remains of a bulb of percussion, though the remains of the striking edge have broken off also and there seems to be some small retouch applied to this breakage area.There is retouch around much of the ventral face edges, with that on the left side being slightly more invasive. The right …
Created on: Wednesday 15th February 2017
Last updated: Monday 27th February 2017
No spatial data available.