1884.119.113

Collection type

Object

Description

Bronze axe

Long description

A bronze palstave with a small flange and raised stop ridge, casting seams are still obvious - possibly indicating that it is an unfinished axe. The blade expands and a small metallographic sample has been taken from it. Two small drill marks are present on one surface from sampling. [CG [Excav. PR] 11/07/2013]

Geographical reference

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Europe > Northern Europe > United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

England Greater London London Borough of Wandsworth River Thames

Person

Maker Unknown Maker

Field collector Unknown Collector

PRM source Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection

Date / Period

Archaeological period: Middle Bronze Age

Date collected

1871

Acquisition information

Donated: 1884

Materials and processes

Material Bronze Metal, Material Copper Alloy Metal, Process Cast, Process Forged (Metal)

Dimensions

Length x Width x Depth: max 164 x 68 x 27 mm, Weight 325 g

Object numbers

Accession number: 1884.119.113 PR no.: 193/ 8386

Associated publications

Listed under 'Stray Finds', category 'Palstaves', as number 728 on page 320 in Catalogue and Plates, Part ii of The Production and Distribution of Metalwork in the Middle Bronze Age in Southern Britain, by M. J. Rowlands (British Archaeological Reports, 31 (ii)), (Oxford: British Archaeological Reports, 1976); photocopy in RDF. For Rowlands' report of analysis carried out on this object, see page 181 of a sub-section entitled 'Metallographic Analyses Carried Out for the Pitt Rivers Museum (Oxford)' in section 3 'Metallographic Analysis' of Appendix A 'Analysis of the Composition of MBA Bronze Metal-Work' in Discussion, Part i of The Production and Distribution of Metalwork in the Middle Bronze Age in Southern Britain, by M. J. Rowlands (British Archaeological Reports, 31 (i)), (Oxford: British Archaeological Reports, 1976); photocopy in RDF. NB In the list Rowlands mistakenly gives accession number as 1854.199.113. [JC 25 7 2008] Published in Allen, I.M., Britton, D., and Coghlan, H.H., 1970, 'Metallurgical Reports on British and Irish Bronze Age Implements in the Pitt Rivers Museum', Occasional Papers on Technology 10, Oxford University Press, Oxford. [CMP 09/08/2010] p 132. : Palstave Flanges start about 10 mm below butt irregular in side view Blade concave in outline with vertical rib on each face. Upper part of sides fairly flat lower part irregularly bevelled in cross section with longitudinal casting seams distinct along whole length. Cutting edge probably never sharpened. Surfaces rather rough partly because rough casting not finished partly through corrosion [Drawing] [Metallographic examination and analysis provided][AP Leverhulme project on founding collection 1995-1998] - Cu 76.0%, Sn 11.3%, Pb 11.9%, As 0.53%, Ni 0.25%, Fe 0.114%, Ag 0.031% - Confirmed as a bronze [GB 24/5/2005]

Search terms: Tool, Weapon, Axe