File:Late Meolithic - Neolithic Axe (FindID 242710).jpg

English: Flint tranchet axe of Late Mesolithic date. The axe has rounded ends and expands in plan from the butt to the blade end; It is pointed oval in longitudinal and transverse cross section. It is 101.8mm long, 45.2mm wide and 24.7mm thick; it weighs 120 grams. It is made of pale grey flint with a heavy white patina. There are remains of original cortext at the butt end and small patches on both sides. The axe is extensively flaked on both sides. On one side there is evidence of large flake removal at the butt and down the sides and long, parallel semi-abrupt removals from the blade; the centre of this side has a longitudinal central ridge which is damaged with a large chip. The other side has smoother areas in the middle and it maybe the axe was ground or polished in certain areas, but the edges on this side are extensively chipped with scaled, invasive, semi-abrupt retouch and also extensively damaged. The blade on this side also appears damaged with large flakes removed by use or damage obscuring the original shape. There are numerous small chips removed from the end on both sides, probably through use. The extensive rough chipping and damage may indicate this axe was a blank which had not been fully formed either by polishing or by removal of a tranchet flake. It is relatively small for both these uses and may have been discared for that reason and then reused on a casual basis. The overall size and form of the object is correct for a Late Mesolithic axe, but the diagnostic transverse flake of a tranchet axe is not present. It could be obscured by the subsequent flaking or damage. However the alternative, that this is a small flaked axe of Neolithic date cannot be ruled out. Found in the same area as SUSS-94E832.