File:Late Bronze Age, Socketed Axehead (FindID 220302).jpg

English: Incomplete cast bronze socketed axe of Late Bronze Age date (1000 – 800 BC). The axe is incomplete; it is missing the mouth and upper part of the socket including the loop. Due to the damage classification is difficult. It is likely that this axe fits within the socketed and faceted axe typology probably associated with the Wilburton metalworking traditions (phase X) and earlier phases of the Ewart Park tradition (phase XII). This corresponds to Needham’s (1996) Period 6-7 circa 1000-800 CAL. BC.

The axe is broadly sub-rectangular in plan with an expanded / flared convex but much abraded cutting edge. The socket is also sub-rectangular in cross section. The axe measures 57.6mm length, 45.7mm width, is 23.9mm thick and weighs 77.67 grams. The depth of the socket from the edge of the break to base of socket is 40.9mm. The socket of the axe is missing and all that remains is a recent jagged laminating break which has removed the upper part of the axe. The mouth of the socket, collar and loop are all missing. The remains of the loop are present on one edge. This has been broken relatively flush with the surface of the body. The cross section of the loop is a relatively regular sub-rectangular shaped diamond. It is unlikely that there were decorative ribs present as these would have extended onto the surviving areas of the axe. The two long sides of the axe expand slightly along the length of the socket and terminate with an expanded blade. Both the casting seams (which run down the sides of the axe) show signs of finishing (being trimmed and flattened). The expanded blade has a curved convex (crescent shaped) cutting edge which is relatively poorly preserved. The blade edge has been lost through abrasion and corrosion. The edges of both faces of the axe are faceted (having eight faces in total) with slight but proportioned edges that extend from the expanded blade too the break at the top of the axe. These facets seem to have been achieved or augmented by hammering as the surface is very irregular under the patination.

The axe fragment is a mid brown colour with an even, well formed patina which covers most surfaces. There are several areas where this patina has been lost – probably through abrasion. Here a light green coloured metal can be seen. Some of this exposed metal has a light green powdery copper corrosion present. The areas worst affected are those around the broken socket and cutting edge. Looking at the damage present it seems likely that the majority of this occurred relatively recently and there is a high probability that the other fragments of the axe are present close to the findspot. Recovery of these would enable a closer more accurate dating.

This form of faceted axe is relatively rare in Wales and the Marches and it is a shame that it isn’t more complete so it could be fully classified. It is similar in style and proportion to a complete axe in the National Museum of Wales Collection from Segontium, Llanbeblig, Caernavon (catalogue No 187 p 108 and 172). It is possible that this may be similar to some of the ‘baggy axes’ from the type known as Gillespie which dates from the later phases of the Wilburton and Ewart Park (Carp’s Tongue) periods of the Later Bronze Age and are associated with the Dowis phase of the LBA in Ireland (Burgess and Schmidt).