Record ID: BH-48F141
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete Middle Bronze Age cast copper-alloy broad-bladed, shield-pattern early un-looped palstave axehead, of Needham's Period 5 – probably the Acton Park II (industry) phase - Metalworking stage VIII, 1500-1300 BC. The blade edge is splayed with rounded tips, both of which are worn and damaged. The edge measures 36.8mm in width and 1.2mm thickness. The faces are slightly convex with worn blade facets. The blade sides are straight and thicken to the stop ridge, which measures 20.2mm width and 21.7mm thickness. The flange side is lozenge-shaped and relatively flat.…
Created on: Tuesday 21st February 2023
Last updated: Wednesday 22nd February 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SF-FC997B
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete cast copper-alloy primary (early) Palstave axehead dating to the Middle Bronze Age. The axehead belongs to Group I: shield-patterened types, and probably belongs to the Acton Park II or Taunton metalworking assemblages (Burgess' stages VIII and IX), dating c. 1500-1300 BC. Part of the blade is missing, though otherwise the axehead is preserved intact. It is broadly rectangular in plan, with a straight-sided rectangular butt demonstrating an 'H' shaped cross section, recessed septum and incomplete fan-shaped blade. It is lenticular in profile, with the thickest portion of…
Created on: Tuesday 12th June 2018
Last updated: Thursday 14th June 2018
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Weeley', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-17C46C
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Fragmentary copper-alloy palstave axe dating from the Middle Bronze Age c. 1500 - 1000 BC. The axe retains part of the blade and stop-ridge. The blade is lentoid in section and sub-rectangular in shape, flaring outwards nearer the blade edge. The blade edge is now missing. The stop-ridge is rectangular in shape, though the depression in one face is deeper than the other. The butt portion of the axe is also missing. The thickest portion of the item is the junction between blade and stop-ridge where flanges rise to meet at the centre. The surface is very worn and the axe app…
Created on: Tuesday 8th May 2018
Last updated: Thursday 7th June 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-A769EC
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Fragment of a copper alloy axe of middle to late Bronze age date (c. 1500 to 1150 BC). The item is rectangular in shape. The butt and the flanged sides remain, whilst the majority of the axe blade is missing. The flanged sides of the axe fragment are parallel to the stop, and the upper and lower faces are concave, forming an 'H' shaped cross section. The item has a rough surface, and a reddish-brown patina all over. It was treated with renaissance wax. Due to the fragmentary nature of the axe, it is not possible to assign a type. Dimensions: weight: 106.61g, length: 70.…
Created on: Tuesday 28th March 2017
Last updated: Tuesday 12th October 2021
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Brentwood', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-20B4F7
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Possibly a fragment from the blade end of a Late Bronze Age chisel or the butt of a palstave. The object is wedge shaped, with the narrow (blade?) edge slightly rounded due to wear. As the object is incomplete, it is difficult ot identify accurately, though the patina and shape would suggest a Late Bronze Age date. Diameter: 24mm.
Created on: Friday 22nd July 2016
Last updated: Tuesday 23rd August 2016
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SF-B43703
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a copper alloy middle Bronze Age palstave axe. Only a small section of the butt end of the palstave survives. This is rectangular in shape with a flange running along both side of both faces, each expanding slightly towards the centre creating a H shape in cross-section. The flanges extend almost to the end of the butt. The surface is heavily pitted and corroded with traces of a brown-orange patina in places. The break is worn. Without further diagnostic details the form of the palstave is uncertain, although it is likely to be an early or transitional type suggesting…
Created on: Wednesday 10th February 2016
Last updated: Tuesday 23rd August 2016
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Tolleshunt D'arcy', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-88E869
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a Middle Bronze Age palstave. The piece represents the butt of the implement, to which the head of the shaft would have been attached. The rounded top side extends smoothly into the vertical sides, which are straight and parallel-sided. On both of the palstave's two wider surfaces, each edge is marked by a right-angled flange, the height of which increases towards the bottom. These flanges border the flat central area. The patination of the piece extends across the break, indicating that the damage occurred in antiquity. Length: 29.1mm; width: 17.9mm; thickness: 9m…
Created on: Friday 27th November 2015
Last updated: Wednesday 23rd December 2015
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Birchanger', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-0450D6
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a Bronze Age copper alloy palstave, dating to 1500-1150BC. Butt end only surviving. Start of flange on both sides visible. It measures 25mm.
Created on: Friday 13th January 2012
Last updated: Thursday 8th March 2012
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-622131
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete middle Bronze Age cast copper alloy palstave, dating circa 1500-1150 AD. The object is a shallow trapezoid in plan, expanding out towards the cutting edge. There is a pronounced stop ridge and shallow flanges. The cutting edge is rounded and shows signs of wear. There is corrosion present on the surface. It is 90.87mm long, 26.70mm wide, 12.66mm thick and weighs 92.7 grams.
Created on: Wednesday 1st June 2011
Last updated: Wednesday 5th October 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-EC59E6
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Middle Bronze Age (1500-1150BC) cast copper alloy palstave fragment. Part of the central body survives with a flange to either side; the fragment is rectangular in plan with an 'H' shaped cross section. It is 26.98mm long, 28.84mm wide, 15.75mm thick and weighs 45.99 grams. There are worn breaks at both ends.
Created on: Friday 19th February 2010
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SF-AE99A4
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete copper-alloy palstave fragment of Middle Bronze Age date. The fragment is approximately triangular in profile and oval shaped in section. The blade end survives intact but has corroded surfaces with some encrustation and a dark brown to green patina. The sides of the palstave taper inwards from the ends of the blade, before terminating in an old break. The fragment measures 36.25mm in width at the blade end, 33.55mm in length, 12.33mm in thickness, and weighs 42.53g. This fragment is probably from a palstave, although it could potentially be from the tip of a socketed axe…
Created on: Monday 24th November 2008
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Toppesfield', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-382FB5
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Bronze Age (c.1500-1400BC) cast copper alloy primary shield pattern palstave, dating to the Acton Park Phase. It is damaged and incomplete, with active copper corrosion. The butt end is missing, and the flange damaged. There is a prominent stop ridge, with a shield shaped depression just below on both surfaces. There is a casting flaw just above the stop ridge on one surface, which has created a small void, approximately 10mm deep, and 3.6mm by 2.6mm wide. The blade expands out into a concentric cutting edge, which is extremely worn. The axe is 135.10mm long, and is 24.95mm wide, 7.95m…
Created on: Wednesday 1st October 2008
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Tendring District', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-222B96
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Bronze Age cast copper alloy plastave. The palstave has straight, parallel sides for most of its length, only begining to significantly expand out for the cutting edge of the blade. The blade has an elongated oval profile, which becomes pointed at the blade end. The width of the plastave is 24.81mm at the butt end, 24.71mm at the stop ridge, the width before expanded blade is 38.75mm increasing to 56.35mm at the expanded blade edge. The butt end is slightly rounded, and has some wear to one side. The flanges are 8.72mm in height. The septum is 8.04mm thick, and shows signs of wear on b…
Created on: Monday 9th July 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Little Hallingbury', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-852095
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Late Bronze Age cast copper alloy looped palstave. The palstave is incomplete and damaged. The plastave is sub-rectangular in plan, with inwardly curving edges which extend outwards to the blade end, and the edges narrow towards the butt end. The blade has a curved cutting edge, which shows signs of damage. The blade appears to be plain, with no ridges present, however the surface is beginning to corrode which may have obscured some details. The prominent flanged edges are damaged towards the butt end. The flange continues along the blade edges beyond the stop. The flanges curve inward…
Created on: Monday 14th May 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-FB0374
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Complete Bronze Age copper-alloy palstave. Is an early palstave of ‘Group I: Primary Shield Pattern’ type, probably dated to the Middle Bronze Age. All parts of the palstave are present and include a probable bar stop and a shield-shaped depression on the blade just below the stop. The shield is transfixed by a long central ridge running from it to the cutting edge, this forms a primitive version of the ‘trident’ pattern. The palstave also has roughly parallel sides above the stop and a widely splayed blade. The cutting edge and blade tips are worn but intact. The palstav…
Created on: Tuesday 19th September 2006
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: ESS-A1DC11
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Fragment of cast copper alloy Middle Bronze Age palstave axe. This fragment represents a fraction of the sternum of the axe and the butt end. It is subrectangular in plan, with the broken end having a diagonal break and is wedge shaped in profile, tapering towards the butt. There is a shallow flange on the fragment, where the original, higher flange has tapered to the butt end. The fragment is pitted and abraded. The original surface has a dark green patina, with exposed areas being light green. The break edge is worn, but very flat, as if the axe had been broken deliberately, possibly…
Created on: Wednesday 10th August 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Roxwell', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-9957A4
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Published
Fragment of Bronze Age palstave axe. This fragment represents the back end of a palstave axe and appears to have broken from the axe at the point of the backstop. The fragment is subtriangular in plan and section with a wedge shaped profile in that it narrows towards its back edge. To either side are clear flanges set at 90 degrees to the main body of the object. The original surface of the axe is missing and it is now abraded and pocked. It has a mid green patina with spots of brighter green corrosion. The break edge, though worn, is very regular, suggesting the axe had been deliberat…
Created on: Wednesday 22nd December 2004
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
No spatial data available.

Record ID: ESS-14EDD7
Object type: PALSTAVE
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Complete copper alloy , 'shelf' type palstave axe with a trident midrib. This axe has a septum that is rectangular in plan, 66mm long and 22.34mm wide to the top and bottom of the axe. This is flanked either side by vertical , parallel flanges, triangular in profile, with tops that are straight and regular. The sternum has a straight stop that is 22.78mm wide. The blade, which is 67.34mm long has straight sides, triangular in profile, that diverge slightly to an unexpanded edge. The blade tips and cutting edge are intact. The width across these is 58mm. The axe is decorated with a tri…
Created on: Tuesday 29th June 2004
Last updated: Thursday 22nd September 2016
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Mersea', grid reference and parish protected.