File:Bronze Age socketed and ribbed Axe (FindID 529160-409502).jpg

English: Circumstances of Discovery

In August 2011, a group of three prehistoric copper alloy objects were found in West Yorkshire. All three objects were socketed axeheads of Late Bronze Age date, dispersed by ploughing. Two of the axes (Nos. 2 & 3) were found within 0.3m of each other. A further axe (No. 1) was found further away (c.5-15m distant).

Note on subsequent fieldwork (December 2012): A small scale excavation of the findspot and further systematic metal detecting survey was conducted in December 2012. This did not reveal any further finds of comparable date. The excavation did not locate the original hole dug by the detectorist in August 2011.

Description
1. Socketed axehead. A near complete cast copper alloy (bronze) ribbed socketed axe (axehead). The mouth of the axe is sub-rectangular (almost square) in cross-section. The edge of the mouth is complete on one face and the casting jets have been trimmed and hammered flat. The other three edges are abraded with the original surface missing. To one side is a cast loop that has an irregular oval cross section, and D shaped in profile. It measures 9.07mm wide, 25.6mm long and 5.46mm thick, projecting 10.9mm from the side-wall. The top of the loop is set beneath the collar in line with the horizontal moulding round the mouth. The horizontal cast moulding is present on both faces and the edges of the axe. From this moulding, on each face, three parallel longitudinal ribs descend. These are almost invisible on one face which is missing the outer layers of metal at the upper end due to laminating corrosion. The ribs on the other side are complete and taper along their length and diminish so they are barely present by half way along the axe. The casting flashes on the sides of the axe have been hammered / finished. The cutting edge/blade is present - although eroded. The sides of the axe expand slightly to form a crescentic blade. The original polished surface patina (where surviving) is smooth and purple brown in colour; in places it is crazed and much of it has flaked off. Beneath are several layers of corrosion; the upper ones being grey brown, and the lower ones being dusty green. The holes on one face of the axe appear to be the result of corrosion on metal which was already thin at the corners of the mouth. The socket extends at least 70.4mm with corrosion and dried earth preventing a complete measurement. The lower part of the inside of the axe is covered with a surface layer of bright blue corrosion. The thickness of the wall varies from 2.3mm to 5.5mm.

Weight: 124.9g; Dimensions: Length: 90.65mm; Width: 42.47mm; Thickness: 37.6mm

2. Socketed Axehead. A near complete cast copper alloy (bronze) ribbed socketed axe (axehead) - very similar to that described above (1). The mouth of the axe is sub-rectangular (almost square) in cross-section. The edge of the mouth is complete on two face and the casting jets have been trimmed and hammered flat. The other two edges are abraded with the original surface missing. To one side is a cast loop that has an irregular oval cross section, and D-shaped in profile. It measures 10.83mm wide, 26.7mm long and 4.8mm thick, projecting 11.6mm from the side-wall. The top of the loop is set beneath the collar in line with the horizontal moulding round the mouth. The horizontal cast moulding is present on both faces and the edges of the axe. From this moulding, on each face, three parallel longitudinal ribs descend. The ribs are complete and are 2.5 - 3mm wide along their whole length. They dissipate into the axe about two thirds along the axe. The casting flashes on the sides of the axe have been hammered but are still nearly as prominent as the ribs. The cutting edge / blade is present - although eroded. The sides of the axe expand slightly to form a crescentic blade. The original polished surface patina survives on the majority of the axe and is smooth and dark brown in colour. In places it is crazed and much of it has flaked off at the blade end. Beneath, are several layers of corrosion; the upper ones being grey brown, and the lower ones being dusty green. The socket extends is 82.67mm deep. The lower part of the inside of the axe is covered with a surface layer of bright blue corrosion. The thickness of the wall varies from 4mm to 5.5mm.

Weight: 148.42g; Dimensions: Length: 94.04mm; Width: 44.03mm; Thickness: 36.2mm

3. Socketed Axehead. A near complete cast copper alloy (bronze) ribbed socketed axe (axehead) - very similar to that described above (1 and 2). The mouth of the axe is sub-rectangular (almost square) in cross-section. The edge of the mouth is almost complete and the casting jets have been trimmed and hammered flat. To one side is a cast loop that has an irregular oval cross section, and D-shaped in profile. It measures 10.26mm wide, 24.7mm long and 4.56mm thick, projecting 9.54mm from the side-wall. The top of the loop is set beneath the collar in line with the horizontal moulding round the mouth. The horizontal cast moulding is present on both faces and the edges of the axe. From this moulding, on each face, three parallel longitudinal ribs descend. The ribs are about 2.5mm wide along their whole length. They dissipate into the axe about half way along the axe. The casting flashes on the sides of the axe have been hammered and trimmed, almost flush with the sides / body of the axe. The sides of the axe expand slightly to form a crescentic blade. The original polished surface patina survives on the majority of the axe and is smooth and mid-brown in colour. In places it is crazed and much of it has flaked off one face and the blade end. The opposite face is in much better condition, but has suffered a recent blow which has removed all patination; this probably occurred during its recovery from the ground. The other corroded areas are a dusty green colour. The socket extends 85.84mm deep. The lower part of the inside of the axe is covered with a surface layer of bright green corrosion. The thickness of the wall at the mouth varies from 5.6mm to 8mm.

Weight: 230g; Dimensions: Length: 104.2mm; Width: 43.25mm; Thickness: 41.92mm

Discussion
All three socketed axeheads are of Late Bronze Age date and belong to Schmidt and Burgess's (1981, 223-39) 'Type Yorkshire', which are characterised by three spaced fine ribs which extend from the collar to approximately half way down the face and by their profile and section. As the type name suggests, they are consistently found in Northern Britain, specifically Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and also East Anglia. This axe type is associated with the Ewart Park metalworking tradition which is dated c.1000 - 800 BC which corresponds to Needham's (1996) Period 6-7 (Metalworking phase XII). Schmidt and Burgess note that in their study (1981; 237-239) there were 29 hoards containing this type of axe with a minimum of 19 others known (therefore a minimum of 48 hoards that contain at least one of these axes).

The close proximately of these three axes suggests that they were deposited together as a single group. The fact that one axe (No. 1) was discovered at some distance to the other two can be seen in other similar hoards that have been dispersed by modern ploughing / agricultural work. The fact that Axe No. 1 is more heavily abraded than the others seems to strengthen this argument.

Conclusion
This group of artefacts date to the Ewart Park Phase of the Late Bronze Age c.1000-800 BC. The evidence provided above indicates that the hoard was originally deposited together as a closed group which has subsequently been disturbed by modern activity. Therefore, this assemblage is eligible as Treasure under the 2002 Treasure (Designation) Order of the Treasure Act 1996 (DCMS: 2002) due to it being a base metal prehistoric find containing two or more metal objects from a closed context.

References:
Needham 1996. 'Chronology and Periodisation in the British Bronze Age',
Acta Archaeologica, 67, 121-140

Schmidt, P.K. and Burgess, C.B. 1981. The axes of Scotland and Northern England. Prahistorische Bronzefund Abteulung IX - Band 7, Munich

Report Author:
Amy Downes: Finds Liaison Officer - Portable Antiquities Scheme, December 2012
Contribution from:
Peter Reavill: Finds Liaison Officer - Portable Antiquities Scheme, December 2012
Checked by:

Neil Wilkin, Curator of the Bronze Age Collection, The British Museum, 6th February 2013