File:Bronze Age (Chalcolithic) flat axe (FindID 994115).jpg

English: An incomplete cast copper alloy possibly Copper Age (Chalcolithic) flat axehead (c.2400 to 2200 BC).

The axehead is sub-trapezoid in plan and flattened oval in cross section across the axe and pointed oval on cross section longitudinally. It is extremely worn with the original surface almost completely lost and is likely to have originally been slightly wider and thicker. The evenly rounded ends suggest is probably otherwise almost complete with perhaps some damage at the butt.

The parallel sides are relatively straight, expanding towards a convex curved blade that has a width of 34.8mm.  The axe thins evenly at the blade with any evidence of sharpening of the blade end lost with the corroded surface. Both faces are slightly convex, with the thickest point in the centre, this appears to be original , and is now a maximum of 7.4mm thick, including the small upstanding areas of original surface.  Whether the sides were always rounded or were squared off with the corners lost to corrosion, is unclear. The axe also thins and narrows towards the butt which is 23.9mm wide and also convex curved. The very end of the butt is slightly straight and a indent on one face suggests this may be damage. Any surface decoration is lost but there is no evidence of stop edge if side flanges.

The surface is rough with a green patina, the small areas of original surface are dark green surrounded by brown. The entire piece is 55.5mm long, 34.8mm wide at the widest point and 7.4m thick. It weighs 51.25g.

The axe probably fits into the earliest phases of metal working in Britain, metalworking stage I-II, which corresponds to Needham's (1996) Period 1-3 c.2500-2050 cal.BC.

The lack of flaring at on the blade, which appears original, and the thinning towards the butt suggest it is similar to Pearce (1983, 26) thin butt type (Case and Coles type AB) including no.s 114, 239 and 256 from Penolva in Cornwall, and Halberton and Ipplepen in Devon. She suggests this type comes from the earliest copper using phase (ibid,55) of 2700-2300 BC. Needham has since (1996), in his reassessment of the entire Bronze Age chronology based on Radiocarbon dating re-dated this entire phase to 2500-2200 cal BC.  

According to Needhams more recent study of axes of this period (2017) this would fit into Class 2, Sub-class 2E, hachettes, (ibid, 16) which he states is not that homogenous but suggests dates to 2400-2300 cal BC. Apart from the short length it is similar to his sub-class 2D, Halberton (named after the Halberton example referenced above). Needham (ibid, 16) suggests a possible continental link for 2D as it is common on the Continent. He dates it to 2300-2200 cal BC (ibid, 44). 

This axe is unusually small, the example from Penolva was the closest at, the other comparisons at least twice as long as this example. Some of the size difference could be from corrosion but it is likely it was always smaller, part of a group sometimes labelled 'miniature axes'.