Record ID: BH-C2EBDD
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: IRON AGE
County: Hertfordshire
Workflow stage: Published
Part of a Late Iron Age to Early Roman rotary quern stone. The piece represents just under half of the originally ring-shaped upper stone. The stone is of classic 'bee hive' form, being domed, with a flat underside, and retains part of its inverted-conical hopper, located centrally. Part of a conical handle socket extends horizontally from the outer face, terminating a short distance from the hopper. Another feature of the stone is a recessed perimeter band, which probably represents a seating for a driving strap. The puddingstone itself is a conglomerate comprising small to medium…
Created on: Saturday 13th December 2014
Last updated: Monday 12th January 2015
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: BH-8525D6
Object type: BATTLEAXE
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
County: Bedford
Workflow stage: Published
A ground stone battle axe, probably of Scandinavian origin and dating from the Neolithic period. The axe, which survives intact, is of flattened-oval section, tapering to a wedge-shaped, downward-curving blade. The cylindrical socket is located close to the butt of the axe, where there is a rearward, hammer-like projection of circular section. The tool has been made from a medium-textured grey stone with a strand-like structure. Orangey-brown deposits on the surface of the implement are probably the result of the tool having been deposited in a wet environment. Length: 147.8mm; …
Created on: Monday 23rd June 2014
Last updated: Friday 18th July 2014
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: BH-FEA9A6
Object type: LITHIC IMPLEMENT
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete flint axehead of Neolithic date. The piece probably represents approximately half of the original tool, the patination of the break suggesting the upper portion was lost in antiquity. The axehead is pointed-oval in section, its straight sides flaring towards a convex cutting edge. On both surfaces there are smooth areas where the tool has been ground and polished; sharpening flakes, which angle down towards the sides, appear to have been struck through this surface, indicating that this is a finished piece that has subsequently been reworked. The exposed flint is light…
Created on: Wednesday 23rd January 2013
Last updated: Thursday 31st January 2013
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Winterborne St. Martin', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-215F62
Object type: PERFORATED OBJECT
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: County of Herefordshire
Workflow stage: Published
A stone perforated object of probable Mesolithic to Neolithic date. The artefact has been made from a light greyish-brown quartzite pebble and is sub-oval in plan, with a lenticular cross section. The extent to which this form is natural (i.e. river worn), or has been achieved through deliberate grinding, is uncertain. The surfaces bear several shallow scratches, some of which may be contemporary with the production of the piece, others possibly being the result of post-depositional damage. Near the centre point of each of the two convex surfaces there is a circular depression, the…
Created on: Friday 7th December 2012
Last updated: Thursday 3rd July 2014
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: BH-4DE412
Object type: AXE
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
County: Hertfordshire
Workflow stage: Published
A flint blade core made from a Neolithic polished axe. Two vertical strips of the polished axe surface remain, including one which extends around one of the narrow edges, providing an indication of the original form. The rest of the surface has been removed by the striking of five broad blades. The piece is oval in section and contains a large flaw, which may be the reason for the axe having been abandoned. The surface of the flint is a heavily patinated light grey colour. Dimensions: 74.1mm long, 42.9mm wide, 29.6mm thick. Weight: 104.69.
Created on: Wednesday 22nd August 2012
Last updated: Tuesday 26th March 2013
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Great Munden', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-54BBD6
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Central Bedfordshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A carved and polished bead of uncertain date and material. The bead is roughly spherical and has an off-centre perforation of circular section. The point from which this perforation has been drilled is marked by an inverted conical depression. The surface is divided between patches of various colours, from pinkish-white to orange and various shades of grey. At at least two points these patches are crossed by parallel veins of white. The bead is damaged in places. It measures 16.3mm in diameter, 14.2mm high and weighs 5.09g. The weight and appearance of this bead suggest it is prob…
Created on: Friday 10th February 2012
Last updated: Friday 10th February 2012
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Great Billington', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-2A58E7
Object type: MACE
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Cambridgeshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Approximately half of a perforated stone hammer, or 'mace head' of probable Mesolithic to Neolithic date. The artefact appears to have originally been sub-circular in plan, although there is a notable flattening mid way along the intact edge, possibly indicative of use. The upper and lower surfaces are convex, tapering towards a central edge. The central perforation is hour-glass shaped. The stone is greyish-green in colour and of unknownorigin.The tool measures 86.8mm in diameter, 49.6mm wide and 27.7mm thick. The weight is 159.44g. The British Museum catalogue of Stone Age Antiqu…
Created on: Saturday 6th March 2010
Last updated: Friday 16th February 2018
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Hail Weston', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-F93C20
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Hertfordshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a puddingstone quern of probable Roman date. The piece is sub-circular in plan. One surface has been deliberately flattened, the other is irregular and has been broken off. There is a small piece of a sub-vertical face, indicating that it comes from the outer edge of the quern. The object measures 62.6mm in diameter, 39.4mm high and weighs 160.07g.
Created on: Thursday 14th January 2010
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Furneux Pelham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-F939B7
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Hertfordshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a puddingstone quern of probable Roman date. The piece is sub-circular in plan. The convex surface appears to have been deliberately shaped, while the underside is rough and has probably been broken off. The artefact measures 63.7mm in diameter, 35mm high and weighs 152.63g.
Created on: Thursday 14th January 2010
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Furneux Pelham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-F92647
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a Roman rotary hand-quern, made of puddingstone, probably quarried in East Hertfordshire. Such querns are thought to date from around the mid 1st to mid 2nd centuries AD. The rounded outer side, domed upper surface and flat bottom face indicate that the original stone would have been of typical hemispherical form. There is no sign of the central hole or of any means of rotation. The piece measures 184mm long, 136.5mm wide and 69.6mm thick. The weight is 1928.9g.
Created on: Thursday 14th January 2010
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Manuden', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-EB3111
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Hertfordshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a Romano-British Hertfordshire puddingstone rotary hand-quern. Probably dates from the mid 1st to mid 2nd century AD. This piece was found in close proximity to two other examples of puddingstone querns - see PAS records BH-890FC8 and BH-88C4B7. The piece is irregular in shape, measuring 112.8mm long, 90mm wide and 55.5mm thick. Part of the flat grinding surface survives. The opposite surface has a curvature consistent with the artefact's original hemispherical form. The fragment weighs 661.2g.
Created on: Friday 21st August 2009
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Furneux Pelham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-890FC8
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Hertfordshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Fragment, less than 20%, of the upper stone of a Romano-British Hertfordshire Puddingstone rotary hand-quern of typical hemispherical form, AD c.50-150. The quern may have been worn to the end of its designed life, as indicated in the drawing; this is the usual state of survival. Parts of the outer surface and the drilled grain hopper survive. The diameter has been c 260 mm; a relatively small example. No signs of handle socket or handle band groove remain. The surviving fragment measures 157.6mm long, 107.6mm wide and 92.9mm high. The weight is 1911.2g.
Created on: Thursday 23rd July 2009
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Furneux Pelham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-88C4B7
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: IRON AGE
County: Hertfordshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Upper stone of a Hertfordshire Puddingstone rotary hand-quern, over 90% complete, but with probable plough damage across the upper surface. The lower surface is discoloured dark grey and may have found later use as a hearthstone; but it is not heavily burnt. It differs markedly from most Hertforshire Puddingstone querns, being much flatter then the typical hemispherical or sub-conical form, dated to AD c.50-100 or 150, and found widely in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and counties eastward across East Anglia. It is believed to belong to an earlier group (AD c.25-50), on the present evid…
Created on: Thursday 23rd July 2009
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Furneux Pelham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-B2C4D4
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: IRON AGE
County: Bedford
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of quernstone made from a light pinkish-grey coarse-grained sedimenatry rock (possibly millstone grit). A similar quern fragment was found nearby - see PAS record no. BH-B2C4D4. The piece described here is darker in colour than BH-B2C4D4, and may have been burnt. Curwen suggests that small hand mills and rotary querns - the likely origin of this piece - probably came into use in the late Iron Age, continuining through the Roman period and possibly beyond (1937; pp. 137-151). The piece is irregular in shape but has flat upper and lower surfaces. It measures 59.9mm long, 51…
Created on: Friday 2nd November 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Sharnbrook', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-B1F656
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: IRON AGE
County: Bedford
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A sub-triangular fragment of stone which probably formed part of a small rotary quern. According to the chronology proposed by E.C.Curwen (1937; pp. 137-151), such querns probably came into use in the late Iron Age, continuing in use throughout the Roman period and possibly beyond. The stone used is a coarse grained sedimentary rock of non-local origin (possibly millstone grit?). It has flat surfaces and a curved outer edge. It measures 89.3mm long, 74.2mm wide, 39.6mm thick and weighs 327.95g.
Created on: Friday 2nd November 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Sharnbrook', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-C98766
Object type: ROTARY QUERN
Broad period: IRON AGE
County: Hertfordshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment from a small circular rotary quernstone. Rotary querns probably first came into use in the late Iron Age and were employed through the Roman period and probably into the Early-medieval period (see E.C. Curwen, 1937). This particular piece represents part of the outer edge of a disc-shaped quern, originally of c. 0.5m in diameter. It is made from a coarse-grained sedimentary rock, with large quartz-like inclusions, and may be millstone grit. There are no grooves in the surfaces. The fragment measures 134.83mm long, 60.5mm wide and 45.43mm thick. The weight is 550.3g.
Created on: Monday 22nd October 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Clothall', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-7431C5
Object type: LITHIC IMPLEMENT
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
County: Hertfordshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A shaped piece of puddingstone which has been deliberatley formed and used as a tool in prehistory. The exact date and function of these artefacts - a very similar example of which is recorded on the PAS database (see BH-416BD3) - is uncertain. The most likely explanation is that they are grain rubbers, used in conjunction with a saddle quern; alternatively (although perhaps less likely, given the form) is that they are hammerstones, employed in the production of flint tools. The quarrying and use of Hertfordshire puddingstone as querns is discussed by B. Lovell and J. Tubb in their ar…
Created on: Thursday 19th April 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Welwyn', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-762291
Object type: PERFORATED OBJECT
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
County: Hertfordshire
Workflow stage: Published
A carved stone axe hammer or macehead of probable late Neolithic to early Bronze Age date (2500-1800 BC). Such implements have been found throughout Britain and there is some debate as to whether they were tools or had a symbolic function. A similar example, complete with evidence of a shaft, was found in the Bronze Age Bush Barrow in Wiltshire. The object is made from a mid brown quartzite pebble of possible Scottish origin (see M.B. Fenton; 1984). It has been roughly shaped but probably not polished. The surfaces are convex and the implement increases in width from the back to the f…
Created on: Tuesday 31st October 2006
Last updated: Tuesday 5th September 2017
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Kings Walden', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-65EDB1
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: IRON AGE
County: Bedford
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Four fragments of quernstone made from a light pinkish rough-grained stone - possibly millstone grit. It is uncertain whether or not the four pieces were all originally part of the same stone, but the thickness of the three intact, larger fragments is similar enough to suggest that they may have been. The largest piece measures 113.1mm long by 106.4mm wide and 52.1mm thick; its underside retains traces of what appears to be rows of carved circular depressions, which may have increased the effectiveness of the tool; the inner edge is slightly concave and appears to represent part o…
Created on: Friday 6th October 2006
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Sharnbrook', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-6D3D05
Object type: ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENT
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Hertfordshire
Workflow stage: Published
An incomplete stone capital, probably from a medieval ecclesiastical building. This piece, as well as an associated fragment of stonework (see BH-6CEE62), are significant in that they were found in an area which is lacking a major ecclesiastical building. The base of this piece is flat and roughly semi-circular in plan. The width of the piece extends towards the damaged top edge. There is damage to the bottom left and top right hand corners (as you look at it) and also to the back of the piece. The curved outer face has numerous vertical marks from a narrow-toothed tool similar to t…
Created on: Friday 26th May 2006
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Clothall', grid reference and parish protected.