Record ID: SOM-F224AB
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Devon
Workflow stage: Published
A complete, unlooped, Middle Bronze Age Palstave axe with high flanges, and a low linear stop ridge, dating to c.1300 to 1150 cal BC. The butt of the axe is c.21.6mm wide, 3.6mm thick and is slightly worn having lost one small sub-rectangular chunk on its corner. It would have originally been flat. The septum measures 59.3mm in length and grows in thickness from 3.3mm at the butt to c.10.0mm adjacent to the linear stop-ridge. The flanges of this axe begin just after the butt and smoothly widen up the length of the septum before narrowing again shortly just before the stop-ri…
Created on: Tuesday 22nd October 2019
Last updated: Sunday 17th October 2021
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Silverton CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-B7FC07
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Devon
Workflow stage: Published
A possibly incomplete Middle Bronze Age cast copper-alloy palstave (axehead) probably of unlooped type. The palstave is very corroded, with some losses at its extremities and little of the original surface remaining. The butt is relatively short and terminates at an angle, possibly indicating an old break. The septum is quite distinct and thinner than the blade suggesting that this is a palstave rather than an earlier flanged axe (Schmidt and Burgess, 1981, p.115); the stop ridge, while quite worn and corroded, is still evident, especially on one side. The flanges widen slightly from …
Created on: Friday 15th March 2019
Last updated: Saturday 14th March 2020
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Musbury', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-06B194
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Middle Bronze Age cast copper alloy palstave (axehead) with one side loop dating to BC 1300 to 1150. The palstave has an old, irregular break at the butt. The septum is gradually thickens from 3.0 mm at the butt to 7.4 mm before the stop. The septum is 54.2 mm in length and 24.4 mm in width. The flanges gradually widen from the butt to the stop to a maximum of 31.4 mm on one side and 29.6 mm on the other side, creating a triangular shape in profile. The stop is angled forwards slightly at its centre and is thicker than the flanges at the centre at 31.3 mm. An integral loop survives…
Created on: Thursday 19th July 2018
Last updated: Friday 20th July 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SOM-466C3D
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Middle Bronze Age cast copper-alloy palstave (axehead) of unlooped type .The palstave is corroded, with some losses at its extremities. The septum is thinner than the blade, 7.5mm thick, indicating that this is a palstave rather than an earlier flanged axe (Schmidt and Burgess 1981, 115). The flanges gradually widen (increase in height) from the butt to the stop to a maximum of 26.7mm, creating a triangular shape in profile. The stop is angled forwards slightly at its centre and is thicker than the flanges at the centre. It is 10.6mm bove the septum on one side, 9.2mm on the other. …
Created on: Thursday 9th November 2017
Last updated: Tuesday 14th November 2017
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Trudoxhill', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-4B2D06
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Middle Bronze Age cast copper-alloy palstave (axehead) probably of unlooped type .The palstave is very corroded, with most of the butt lost and some of the blade and little of the original surface remaining. It does however appear to be unusually narrow, especially given its length. The septum is distictly thinner than the blade with parts of a stop ridge surviving on one face. The flanges appear to have been shallow on the butt, widening abruptly at the top ridge but that may be the result of wear and damage. The widest point is just beyond the stop ridge after which the sides th…
Created on: Tuesday 11th July 2017
Last updated: Thursday 13th July 2017
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Winsham CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-4AE947
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Middle Bronze Age cast copper-alloy palstave (axehead) probably of unlooped type .The palstave is very corroded, with some losses at its extremities and little of the original surface remaining. The septum is distictly thinner than the blade suggesting that this is a palstave rather than an earlier flanged axe (Schmidt and Burgess 1981, 115) but the stop ridge is mostly worn and corroded away. The flanges gradually widen from the butt to the stop with the widest point just beyond the stop ridge but there worn edges mean the shape is unclear. There is one possibly projection on on…
Created on: Tuesday 11th July 2017
Last updated: Thursday 13th July 2017
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Cricket St Thomas CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-D8DA51
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A near complete Middle or Late Bronze Age copper alloy palstave, probably dating to c. 1300-1000 BC. The butt end of the palstave is trapezoidal in shape, 54.7mm long and 5.2mm thick, in width it tapers from 32.7mm at the stop to 17.3mm at the butt. The septum is also trapezoidal, with relatively low side flanges, which are triangular when viewed in profile, tapering from the stop to the butt. At the stop the septum is 25.0mm wide and 9.0mm deep on the less abraded face, and with a vertical stop ridge. At the stop the palstave has a sub-rectangular cross section, with very slightly co…
Created on: Thursday 18th May 2017
Last updated: Monday 22nd May 2017
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Winsham CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-61850E
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A copper alloy Middle Bronze Age palstave dating to the Acton- Penard phases (c. 1500 - 1100 BC). The palstave has a narrow butt and from the butt expands in both width and thickness into a high flange on either side flanking a central U-shaped septum. The septum exhibits a hollow on at least one face faces just above the stop ridge. This is caused by air trapped in the mould during the casting process. On one side of the palstave, adjacent to the stop ridge, is a broad U-shaped loop with tapering ends. There is a tapering triangular indent with concave sides running from the sto…
Created on: Monday 23rd January 2017
Last updated: Monday 23rd January 2017
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'West Crewkerne (CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-B6F9F7
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Devon
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A copper alloy Middle Bronze Age palstave of South Western type dating to the Taunton/Penard phase (c. 1400 - 1100 BC). The palstave has a narrow butt measuring 17.86mm in width and 3.31mm in thickness. The palstave then expands in both width and thickness into a high flange on either side flanking a central U-shaped septum. The septum exhibits a hollow on both faces just above the stop ridge. This is caused by air trapped in the mould during the casting process. Both long edges exhibit longitudinal casting seams which have been polished down as part of the finishing process. On on…
Created on: Monday 11th April 2016
Last updated: Wednesday 20th April 2016
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Sticklepath', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-63A448
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A copper alloy palstave fragment of Middle Bronze Age date (c.1600-1000 BC). The fragment is broadly rectangular in plan. The butt end, part of the flanges, part of the blade and the cutting edge are missing due to old breaks. The flanges taper to form a worn U-shaped septum. It exhibits a worn stop-ridge approximately halfway along its length. The blade expands out slightly along its length before terminating in a worn break approximately mid-way along the length of the blade. In profile the palstave is lentoid, with the widest section at the stop-ridge. It exhibits traces of a verti…
Created on: Thursday 8th October 2015
Last updated: Thursday 8th October 2015
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SOM-2B70A5
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Published
An incomplete and extremely worn and corroded cast copper-alloy palstave (axe) or possibly chisel, probably dating to the Middle Bronze Age, c. 1500-1150 BC.The object has lost the butt to an old break but has a thinned septum ending in a stop ridge on both faces. The septum is now 4.3mm thick and 17.7mm wide. The stop ridges are angled rather than vertical but this is probably due to wear as the more complete side appears more vertical. This side also has what may be the very worn remains of flanges although there is otherwise no evidence for them being present. At the stop ridge …
Created on: Monday 6th October 2014
Last updated: Monday 15th December 2014
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Whitestaunton CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-0F85D7
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A late Middle Bronze Age/early Late Bronze Age cast copper-alloy palstave (axehead) of unlooped type. The palstave is corroded and pitted. There is not much difference in width between septum and blade; the particular narrowness of the blade suggests an ancillary use as a chisel. The low flanges are abraded but gradually widen from the butt to the mid point, narrowing again towards the stop ridge with which they are fused, creating an elongated oval shape in profile. Just beyond the stop ridge are pronounced lateral protrusions; such lugs or 'trunnions' are known on chisels, but also …
Created on: Wednesday 30th October 2013
Last updated: Wednesday 30th October 2013
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Doulting CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-A636D3
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Published
Middle Bronze Age cast copper-alloy palstave (axehead) of unlooped type .The palstave is corroded, with some losses at its extremities. The septum is thinner than the blade suggesting that this is a palstave rather than an earlier flanged axe (Schmidt and Burgess 1981, 115). The flanges gradually widen from the butt to the stop, creating a triangular shape in profile. The stop is angled forwards slightly at its centre. The blade is rectangular in cross-section with shallowly curved sides that widen gradually towards the cutting edge before curving out more approaching the cuttin…
Created on: Friday 26th April 2013
Last updated: Monday 13th May 2013
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Selwood', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-BED917
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Middle Bronze Age cast copper alloy palstave (axehead) with the remains of one side loop.The palstave is highly corroded although some of the surface still remains in the flange on both sides as well where the stop meets the blade on one side. The septum is 6mm thick at the butt, and 7.7mm thick at the widest point, 16.8mm wide before the stop and 57.2mm long. The flanges are mostly complete apart from a few large nicks and corrosion and finish just before the butt and end at the stop. They gradually widen from the butt to the stop, creating a triangular shape in profile with slightl…
Created on: Tuesday 8th January 2013
Last updated: Tuesday 15th January 2013
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Charlton Musgrove', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-F04C95
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Middle Bronze Age cast copper alloy palstave (axehead) with central mid-rib pattern and remains of one side loop. The palstave is highly corroded with little of the original surface remaining. It has an old, irregular break at the butt and along all four flanges. The septum is 3.6mm thick at the butt, 5.8mm thick at maximum, 18.4mm wide before the stop and c.53mm long. There is a thick deposit of iron pan on the septum filling the space between the flanges on one side. The flanges are all broken and missing their outer edges so it is not clear what shape or how wide they were…
Created on: Friday 5th October 2012
Last updated: Tuesday 9th October 2012
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Chalton Musgrove', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-1DE687
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Published
A small Middle Bronze Age cast copper alloy palstave possibly with an indented shield pattern and possibly without a side loop (unlooped palstave). The palstave is highly corroded with an old, irregular break at the butt, along the edges of the flanges and at the outer corners of the blade. The septum is 2.9mm thick at the butt, 7.1mm thick at maximum, 14.2mm wide before the stop and c.39.1mm long. There are deep holes left by air bubbles at the junction of the septum and stop on both sides. The outer edges of the flanges are broken and corroded so it is not clear how wide they w…
Created on: Thursday 13th September 2012
Last updated: Friday 16th November 2012
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Selwood', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-EC8867
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Middle Bronze Age cast copper alloy palstave (axehead) with central mid-rib pattern and remains of one side loop. The palstave is highly corroded with has an old, irregular break at the butt and along all four flanges. The septum is 2.3mm thick at the butt, 5.8mm thick at maximum, 16.8mm wide before the stop and c.58mm long. There is a deep hole left by an air bubbles at the junction of the septum and stop on one side. The flanges are all broken and missing their outer edges so it is not clear what shape or how wide they were. They appear to end at the stop ridge which is now the…
Created on: Thursday 12th July 2012
Last updated: Saturday 1st September 2012
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Brewham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-1F7EE4
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Middle Bronze Age cast copper alloy high flanged palstave (axehead) with central mid-rib patten and one side loop. The palstave has an old, irregular break at the butt. The septum is 3.8mm thick at the butt, 5.6mm thick at maximum, 14.4mm wide before the stop and c.47mm long. There are air bubbles at the junction of the septum and stop on both sides. The wide flanges are pointed oval in section and continue on beyond the stop ridge with no step down at this point. One is 29.6 and one 30.4mm wide at the widest point, the least corroded is 3.5mm thick. There are distinct casting line on…
Created on: Wednesday 20th June 2012
Last updated: Wednesday 24th September 2014
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Whitelackington', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-9810A6
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Fragment of the butt of a Bronze Age palstave axe. The fragment is wedge shaped with raised edges of each side creating a 'H' shaped profile. The fragment is in fairly poor condition; it is eroded and pitted with very rounded edges. However, a small amount of dark-green, shiny patina can be seen in a few places. The small size and worn condition of the fragment makes it difficult to determine the original form of the palstave. However, it probably dates to the mid Bronze Age. Length: 28.6mm, Width: 21.7mm, Thickness: 10.2mm Weight: 23.4g
Created on: Monday 16th February 2009
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Near Spaxton', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SOM-1E8616
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A cast copper alloy palstave of early Middle Bronze Age date. The unlooped palstave measures 155mm in length by 66.2mm (width across cutting edge) by 37.2mm and weighs 426g. The cutting edge is crescentic. The butt has parallel sides and the end is damaged with a small part missing. The stop is rounded and the side flanges are high. There is a very faint casting seam along the centre of the sides of the blade and flange. This palstave falls into the Acton Park phase of metal-working. The palstave is in good condition with an even dark brown patina.
Created on: Wednesday 7th November 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Wiveliscombe', grid reference and parish protected.