File:2008 T455 Image 3 (pit containing palstaves) (FindID 228918).jpg

English: Middle Bronze Age Palstave hoard of Werrar type from Shorwell Parish, Isle of Wight. Treasure case no. 2008 T455.

This palstave hoard, although heavily corroded, can be defined as Werrar type class 4. This type is associated with the Taunton phase of the Middle Bronze Age dating 1400-1250 BC (Northover 2001, 434). Werrar type Palstave distribution is confined to the Isle of Wight region and southern Britain. This includes hoards such as the Newport hoard where 24 of the 31 Palstaves were Werrar type and the Arreton and Mitchells road hoards where only this type of Palstave was found (Rowlands 1976, 33). The absence of a stop ridge on the Palstaves of this type is their most characteristic feature (Northover 2001, 435). Instead the flange curves inward to form a shield shaped bar (Northover 2001, 435) which the haft could abutt against (Rowlands 1976, 34). This hafting technique has been linked to the Flanged Axe/Palstave production in Ireland (Rowlands 1976, 34). The straight triangular shaped blade is also characteristic of this type and class (Rowlands 1976, 34).

The metal used in the manufacture of these Palstaves on the Isle of Wight was probably imported from North or North western France (Northover 2001, 435) and is seen as being contemporary with the Tréboul hoard in Brittany (Northover 2001, 435).