File:Bronze Age , Socketed axe (FindID 120552-90754).jpg

English: In 1984 a Founders Hoard of late Bronze Age metal work was unearthed. The Hoard consisted of eight objects. Two of the objects join together to form what could be part of a bronze bowl or caldron; however the piece could simply be a fragment of metal working debris.

The Hoard consists of the following: 1) A fragment of a socketed axe SUSS-8F4D33 (found within the metal detectorists collection - it was not kept with the rest of the hoard, but is likely to be from the same find site, the detectorist is deceased). 2) Two fragments of a bronze bowl or caldron or possibly metal working debris SUSS-8F4883 3) A small socketed chisel blade SUSS-8F4080 4) Metal working debris SUSS-8F14C2 5) A socketed axe SUSS-8F0734 6) A socketed axe SUSS-8F00C6 7) A small gouge SUSS-8EC013

A late Bronze Age, socketed axe dating from 1150 – 800 BC, from the Ewart Park phase, Class B1. The axe was found within a hoard context. The axe survives in a very good condition and much of the well-finished original surface still survives. The mouth of the socket is experiencing some active corrosion; bronze disease is affecting the metal and is producing a light green powder (post-conservation). There are also some areas of heavy wear on the faces of the axe. The majority of the axe is still covered with the original surface, which has a dark green shiny patina. On the faces of the lower blade there appears to be a number of hammer marks which could indicate that the axe has been re-sharpened at some point during its lifetime.

The mouth of the socket is badly damaged and most of one side looks as though it must have been broken off in antiquity. The axe has a double mouth-moulding. The loop extends from the lower, less pronounced moulding. From the main body of the axe the loop extending outwards for approximately 11mm. The loop has a rounded profile. The casting flash on the loop has hammer rippling and it is in high relief. The flash line is untrimmed and it is very crude. Due to the broken mouth it is impossible to see the casting flash from the mouth to the loop. The flash line below the loop has been trimmed and is straight.

The socket is sub-rectangular and measures 37.33 x 39.2 mm. The depth of the socket is approximately 76mm to the socket end. There is a seemingly random lump of bronze or possibly casting waste lodged in the socket. The body is slightly flared for most of its length, expanding outwards close to the cutting edge. Expanding down from the second mouth moulding (on both faces) are six ribs which all terminate with a punched pellet motif, these pellets have all been positioned in a line. On both faces the sixth rib and pellet (nearest the loop on both faces) have almost missed being cast and appear on the edge on the axe, on the area known as the body angles. The blade tips proper has largely corroded away due to the bronze disease and wear. The cutting edge measures 43mm in width.

A very similar axehead can be seen in Savory (1980), p174, ref: 223 and also in Annable and Simpson (1964), p130, ref: 604.