Axe, narrow neck, small expanded edge, cross top and flanges.

Collection type: Object
Description: Axe, narrow neck, small expanded edge, cross top and flanges.
Geographical reference: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Europe > Northern Europe > United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; England Suffolk
Person: Maker Unknown Maker; Field collector John Wickham Flower; PRM source Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Date / Period: Archaeological period: Bronze Age, uncertain
Date collected: By 1873
Acquisition information: Transferred: 1892
Materials and processes: Material Copper Alloy Metal, Material Bronze Metal, Process Cast
Dimensions: Length x Width: max 40 x 26 mm, Length: max 137 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1892.67.119 Other numbers: 1122
Research and responses: 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 demonstrated the presence of Cu, Sn, As (arsenical bronze). A copy of the analysis and report is held in conservation [GB 23/8/2007; MN 27/10/2009]
Note that only a tiny fraction of JW Flower items are also marked as being related to the Pitt Rivers founding collection. Whilst it is possible that they did originally form part of the founding collection, were brought from London in 1884 and then placed with the geological(or other) collections at Oxford University Museum of Natural History before eventually being transferred to the Pitt Rivers Museum it seems odd that they were not all recorded as being related to the founding collection. Most are attributed to being donated by Flowers to OUMNH and being transferred from there [AP 23/07/2009]
Associated publications: Listed under 'Stray Finds', category 'Palstaves', as number 963 on page 337 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. NB Rowlands uses the previously mistakenly assigned number 1887.1.1122 (see above). [JC 24 7 2008]

Search terms: Tool, Weapon, Axe