1884.119.19

Collection type

Object

Description

Copper flat axe from Cyprus; probably of Early-Middle Bronze Age (Early-Middle Cypriote) date. [Dan Hicks 01/05/2012]

Long description

Axe, tool or weapon. “Flat axe. Elongated trapezoidal shape with rectangular section, convex working edge. Similar axes date to EC-MC.” [Description by Karageorghis, V., 2009, p. 110] [JFK 19/11/2009]

Geographical reference

Cyprus

Asia > Western Asia > Cyprus

Unknown

Person

Maker Unknown Maker

Field collector Luigi Palma di Cesnola

PRM source Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection

Date / Period

Date made: 2500-1600 BC Archaeological period: Bronze Age

Date collected

By 1874

Acquisition information

Donated: 1884

Materials and processes

Material Copper Metal, Process Cast

Dimensions

Length: max 97 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1884.119.19 Other numbers: Cypriot Archaeology 131 PR Cat other PR nos: ? 2299 PR no.: 1440

Research and responses

Note that these items are not matched to the blue book entry in the accession book but it seems likely that they should have been. The added accession book entries did not match the objects to the blue book usually. Also note that the four figure number is not given in the accession book. Note that 1884.119.19 is the first of many entries which seem to have been added to the Accession Book records made by ES Thomas, possibly when these objects were retrospectively numbered. The Accession Book entries are numbered sequentially in most instances but occasionally skipped a number, details for these were typed on separate sheets and glued into place in the Accession Book. All these additional pages have been removed from the book and placed in RDF. Note that there are catalogue cards for all these objects. It is possible that when the objects were numbered some objects were found unentered and a decision was taken to change the numbering system and fit the unentered items into the most appropriate place in the record. All such entries will be marked by being called 'Added Accession Book V entry ' in the computer entries. [AP Leverhulme project on founding collection 1995-1998]

At a sale at Sotheby's on 3rd July 1871 Pitt Rivers purchased three lots of metalwork. The sale was the remainder the General Luigi di Cesnola's collection. It is possible but by no means certain that this object is from one of these lots. The lots were: Lot 62, Lot 63 and Lot 126 and consisted of 22 metal items - ten spear heads, a socketted spear, celts and other unlisted metal items.[MdeA 9 July 1999]

In 1999 samples from the PRM's collection of Cypriot archaeological metalwork were subjected to electron probe microanalysis with wavelength dispersive spectrometry by Peter Northover of the Department of Materials, University of Oxford. The sample from this object was given the sample number 'Cesnola 4' and subjected to three separate analyses, the mean results being as follows: Fe 0.79, Co 0.00, Ni 0.01, Cu 97.94, Zn 0.00, As 0.74, Sb 0.02, Sn 0.02, Ag 0.01, Bi 0.04, Pb 0.08, Au 0.00, S 0.36. For the full results of the analysis, see Peter Northover's unpublished report 'Analysis of Copper Alloy Metalwork in the Cesnola Collection, Pitt-Rivers Museum' (in RDF: Researchers: Northover). [JC 14 11 2008]

Email correspondence today with Peter Northover confirmed that, based on his metallurgical analysis, this object is most accurately described as 'impure copper', rather than 'copper alloy'. I have updated the description accordingly [Correspondence now placed on file in RDF: Researchers: Northover] [Dan Hicks 01/05/2012]

Associated publications

Published under catalogue number 131 on page 110 in Karageorghis, V., (2009) Cypriote Art in the Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford. A.G. Leventis Foundation. [JFK 09/10/2009]

Search terms: Tool, Weapon, Axe