Record ID: ESS-A0506B
Object type: HANDAXE
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete worked flint probable handaxe of Palaeolithic date (500,000 - 180,000 BC). Description: The object is sub-triangular in plan and sub-triangular in cross section. The proximal end is bulbous, reducing to a point at the distal end. It is formed from a secondary flake of translucent brown flint with white patination over most of the surface. There are two small areas at the proximal end with a sandy colour and texture and the dorsal face has red brown iron staining over half of its surface. The object has been bifacially w…
Created on: Monday 12th February 2024
Last updated: Friday 19th April 2024
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-B19D28
Object type: HANDAXE
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete, Palaeolithic flint handaxe dating to circa 500,000-150,000 BC. It is sub-cordate in plan and pointed oval in cross section. Extensive working with a hammer on both faces.
Created on: Wednesday 21st September 2022
Last updated: Thursday 22nd September 2022
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Near Castle Point', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-509145
Object type: HANDAXE
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A pointed handaxe of honey-coloured flint, broken into two pieces. The handaxe is roughly triangular in section and is finely flaked over much of its surface. The cutting edges are both twisted, one more than the other. There is an extensive area of white cortex on the butt of the handaxe and smaller areas elsewhere on the surface. The handaxe appears to have been broken fairly recently as the edges of the break are sharp and clean, there is no variation in the colouration of the surface of the flint across the break and the two pieces fit together very easily.
Created on: Tuesday 24th August 2021
Last updated: Friday 27th August 2021
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Walton Cliffs', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-DDDBFF
Object type: HANDAXE
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Knapped handaxe of early to middle Palaeolithic date c. 500,000 years ago - 200,000 years ago. The tool is bifacial and ovate in shape, and features flake removals across a large portion of both faces. The proximal (butt) end is curved and the distal end is slightly narrower and is asymmetric in form, as one side is notched or shouldered whilst the other extends slightly higher and shows evidence of a breakage just to the side of the top-most point of the axe. The item is a pointed oval shape in section. The thickest portion of the tool is at the centre, tapering out in thick…
Created on: Thursday 16th November 2017
Last updated: Monday 8th January 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-88730B
Object type: HANDAXE
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Published
A Palaeolithic flint handaxe, dating 500,000-250,000 BC. The flint is a mottled mid-light grey colour. The handaxe is pointed at one end and rounded at the other. The evidence of retouch seems to be mixed, with covering, scaled with parallel retouch in places and semi-abrupt to low angle. Some trace of recortication on the base of both sides. Handaxes like this were used throughout the Palaeolithic period (800,000-250,000BC). These tools are often believed to have been produced by early humans, such as Homo antecessor or Homo heidelbergensis. Dimensions: length: 140 mm; width: 72.33 …
Created on: Tuesday 3rd May 2016
Last updated: Friday 11th May 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-55454C
Object type: HANDAXE
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Lithic handaxe, knapped from mid grey flint, of probable Palaeolithic date. Flakes have been removed from both surfaces to shape the axe, which is oval in plan. It has an elongated lenticular cross section with pointed edges. The edges of the axe are damaged and worn. The surface of the axe is a creamy white colour, however the grey flint can be seen on the more recent damage to the axe. The axe is 93.7mm long, 81.1mm wide and is 24.4mm thick.
Created on: Thursday 1st January 2015
Last updated: Thursday 5th February 2015
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-C122F6
Object type: HANDAXE
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Published
Palaeolithic knapped flint cordate handaxe. The axe is sub-oval in plan, with a rounded butt end and point. There is a later fracture removing a large flake on one side side of the axe. In profile the axe is straight sided. The surface is predominantly covered with scars from flake removal, with increased level of removals around the butt end. There is a small amount of cortex surviving in the middle of one surface of the axe, however the majority of the surface is a light-cream to white colour due to heavy patination. Later removals caused by damage have a lighter patination, with ev…
Created on: Tuesday 10th January 2012
Last updated: Sunday 25th March 2012
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-7DE464
Object type: HANDAXE
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Published
A small flint Palaeolithic handaxe dated circa 500,000-40,000 BC. It has a pointed distal end and a fairly rounded proximal end. There is bifacial working and there is retouching to both long sides. The dorsal surface has a completely white patina and the ventral surface has a flecked greyish patina with a large area of cortex still remaining. The ventral surface has many bulb scars. Length 87.17mm, width 61.01mm, thickness 19.14mm, weight 99.8g.
Created on: Tuesday 3rd August 2010
Last updated: Tuesday 29th April 2014
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Birch CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-6603F1
Object type: HANDAXE
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Published
A Lower (early) Palaeolithic flint handaxe. The axe is complete and is ovate and almost symmetrical in plan. There is bifacial working and remnants of cortex on both dorsal and ventral surfaces. Length 161.6mm, width 88.42mm, thickness 28.65mm, weight 496g. Lower or middle Paleaolithic dated 500,000-40,000 BC. The patina is orangey brown which is indicative of the axe being deposited in river terrace gravels.
Created on: Wednesday 2nd December 2009
Last updated: Tuesday 12th August 2014
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-4444B5
Object type: HANDAXE
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Published
Palaeolithic cordate handaxe, knapped from dark grey flint. Flakes have been removed from both surfaces to shape the axe. It is an elongated oval in plan, with a more pointed cutting end. It has an elongated lenticular cross section with pointed edges. The edges of the axe are damaged and worn. The surface of the axe is orange-brown in colour, however the grey flint can be seen on the more recent damage to the axe. The axe is 132.27mm long, 70.30mm wide and is 38.88mm thick.
Created on: Thursday 14th August 2008
Last updated: Tuesday 12th August 2014
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Waxham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-BE18D4
Object type: HANDAXE
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Published
A Lower Palaeolithic flint handaxe. It is made of orange-brown flint and has an ovoid shape and a flat profile. On one face an area of cortex is preserved. The handaxe is in relatively good condition with only a few modern surface chips. It measures 113mm long, has a maximum width of 72mm and a maximum thickness of 33mm. It weighs 332g.
Created on: Thursday 28th September 2006
Last updated: Friday 9th May 2014
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-03B8A8
Object type: HANDAXE
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Published
Complete Lower Palaeolithic flint handaxe. The axe is ovate, being oval in plan and section and is bifacial, having been worked on both faces. It has a twisted ''S'' profile. The surfaces of the flint have stained a creamy colour with large patches of orange, though the cutting edges (now blunt) reveal the inner flint to be light grey. The complete circumference of the flint is worked and flake removal is clear on one side. The opposing side is more worn and signs of production are less clear. The axe is 87.16mm long, 70.32mm wide, 23.92mm thick and weighs 182.54g. The twisted profile…
Created on: Wednesday 15th June 2005
Last updated: Friday 9th May 2014
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Kelvedon', grid reference and parish protected.