File:Flanged palstave with central rib, Middle Bronze Age (1500-1150 BC) (FindID 97203).jpg

English: A cast copper alloy flanged palstave with central rib, possible shield shaped pattern below the stop ridge, and raised flange facets. On both sides of the axe are linear ribs which extend from the butt to the cutting edge. These ribs are likely to be scars from the two part mold used to cast it. The palstave dates from the Middle Bronze Age (1500-1150 BC). It measures 144.2mm long and weighs 344 grams.

The blade of the palstave is sub-triangular in plan with convex expanding sides and a convex cutting edge. In profile the blade is sub-triangular with the widest section being before the stop ridge. The sides of the blade are convex in shape. The blade (measured from the cutting edge to the stop ridge) is 86.3mm long and the width of cutting edge is 60.1mm. The thickness of the blade tip is 6.1mm. The maximum thickness of the blade is 20.5mm (measured at a point below the stop ridge; the width at this point is 26.5mm). Beneath the stop-ridge, on both sides of the palstave, is a tapering central rib. This rib extends approximately half way down the length of the blade, terminating in a rounded point. The rib itself, although present on both sides, is crisper and less eroded on one of the two faces. Directly below the stop ridge is a concave depression; this may be the remains of a ‘shield shaped’ pattern. The convex cutting edge is asymmetric with one side of the blade being more worn than the other. There are also a number of indentations (chips) along the face of the cutting edge. These are likely to have been created through use. 



The rear part of the axe (from the stop ridge to the butt) is sub-rectangular in plan and sub-triangular in section (profile) with the widest part behind the stop ridge. The septum (the area between the flange facets and the stop ridge) is 60.3mm long, 18.6mm wide, and 5.4mm thick. The butt of the axe has been damaged leaving one corner rounded and the other missing a large section. The butt is 24.6mm wide and 7.5mm thick. The flange facets are fused to the stop ridge forming two raised elements to haft the axe by. The facets on each side of the axe differ from one another. On one side the flange facets are sub-triangular with a bowed convex in profile. Whereas the other side has less pronounced or developed facets; however these have been damaged by abrasion and cleaning. 

The palstave is a bronze metallic colour due to cleaning which has removed the original (dark green-brown?) patina. This cleaning has resulted in a number of small holes which cover all the surfaces of the artefact. Such cleaning means that a number of questions about the age of the damage to the butt and the flange facets of the palstave now cannot be answered. Similar examples to this palstave can be seen in: Savory, 1980; Catalogue of the Bronze Age collections in the National Museum of Wales; entry 151 from Ceulan-y-maesmawr, Cardiganshire. This form and style of palstave fits into the Acton Park metal working tradition which is dated to the first phase of the Middle Bronze Age (MBA I) 1450-1250 BC.