File:Bronze Age , Socketed axe (FindID 120553).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, facetted socketed axe dating from 1150 – 800 BC, from the Ewart Park phase, Class D3. 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. There are a number of areas on the axe which are experiencing active corrosion, namely on the cutting edge of the blade, on the loop and also around the mouth of the socket. Bronze disease is affecting the metal and is producing a light green powder (post-conservation). 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 largely complete, though slightly damaged by corrosion; it measures 36.19 x 33.52 mm. This example has only one bulbous mouth moulding. The depth of the socket is approximately 81mm to the socket end. There is a seemingly random fragment of bronze or possibly casting waste lodged in the socket.

The axe is ‘waisted’, it tapers inwards before extending outwards towards the blade. Attached to one side of the axe is a small loop. The top of the loop is positioned approximately 23mm down from the mouth. From the main body of the axe the loop extending outwards for approximately 8mm. The loop has a rounded profile. The casting flash between the loop and the mouth appears to be a hammer rippled joint. The casting flash below the loop is off-centre and is straight.

The main body of the axe has one face on either side of the axe. These faces have a faceted edge, known as a body angle. These angles are well defined and decrease the closer they get to the blade tips. The blade is much wider than the rest of the axe; the blade appears to have been hammered as it has a bevelled edge to the cutting edge. The blade tips proper has largely corroded away due to the bronze disease. The cutting edge measures 46mm in width.

Similar axeheads can be seen in Savory (1980), p172, ref: 184-5 and in Annable and Simpson (1964), p130, ref: 607.