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Pitt Rivers Museum

1884.119.179

Bronze axe


1884.119.179

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

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Collection type
Object
Description
Bronze axe
Long description
Axe, tool or weapon.
Geographical reference
Ireland County Carlow
Date
Date collected
By 1874
Acquisition information
Donated: 1884
Materials and processes
Material Bronze Metal, Material Copper Alloy Metal, Process Cast, Process Socketed
Dimensions
Length x Width x Height: max 86 x 62 x 35 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1884.119.179 PR Cat other PR nos: 2311
Research and responses

Pitt Rivers was in Ireland [serving in the Army] from 1862-66, this object may have been obtained during this period [Bowden, 1991: 60-4] [AP Leverhulme project on founding collection 1995-1998]

Between 2005 - 2007 a survey of metalwork in the PRM was undertaken by Gali Beiner, a conservator in the Museum. As part of this study 77 objects were analysed using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) providing a qualitative non destructive analysis of the alloy composition. This object was one of those analysed, the results showed the presence of Cu, Sn, Fe (bronze). A copy of the analysis and report is held in conservation [GB 23/8/2007; MN 27/10/2009]

Search terms: Tool, Weapon, Axe