File:Bronze Age Palstave (FindID 221901).jpg

English: An incomplete cast copper alloy looped palstave of Middle Bronze Age date (c. 1500 BC – c. 1250 BC. Length: 71.1mm; width: 25.8mm and 17.0mm thick. Weight: 71.74g.

The butt end and the majority of the blade are missing due to old breaks.

In plan, the stop is square and the sides of the butt end taper in width from the stop towards the oblique break that has occurred close to the butt end. At the stop the thickness is 17.0mm. The septum is flat on both faces and there is no evidence for any vertical ribbing. At the stop the septum has a thickness of 5.3mm. It diminishes in thickness towards the oblique break where the thickness is 4.6mm. The top of the flanges are corroded so there original height above the septum is unknown. However, they appear to have been quite low. The upper part of the blade is sub-rectangular in cross-section and tapers slightly in width and thickness towards the transverse break. At the stop the width is 22.8mm and at the break it has a width of about 12.2mm. On the upper part of the blade, immediately beneath the stop on both faces, there is an indistinct central median rib. Viewing the implement from each side, it is roughly lozenge-shaped. On one edge there are two stubs, the remains of a loop. When complete, the loop would have had a length of about 29.0mm. There is no trace of a casting seam on this edge. However, the seam is probably absent due to corrosion. The un-looped edge has a wide casting seam throughout its length.

The piece is in poor condition overall and has loose and powdery copper alloy corrosion products. A dark green patina has survived in places, mainly on both faces of the septum, beneath the stop on one face and around the area of the remains of the loop.

This palstave belongs to the Taunton phase of metalworking, dating from c. 1500 BC-c. 1250 BC.