File:THames pick (FindID 824023).jpg

Description:The axehead is irregular sub-rectangular in plan with a pointed butt and is roughly D-shaped in cross-section at the blade end and rough upright irregular ovoid in cross-section from the middle to the butt. It becomes thinner and slightly wasted from the middle of the object to the butt. The object has long flaking roughly covering the wider blade end stopping about a third of the way along one face and three quarters of the way along the other with some flaking creeping up the sides from the middle of the most heavily faked sides. There is a transverse flake on the bottom side creating an edge at the wide end, this technique is generally associated with the tranchet axe industries of the Mesolithic. The conchoidal flaking is a mix oft muted suggesting the use of soft hammer technology and some patches of more pronounced fracturing which might indicate the use of both techniques in its production or later accidental or natural damage. There is a an area of some minor flaking at the butt end as well. A chunk of blade on the left side of the top face is missing and likely relates to fairly recent plough or similar damage as the break is very fresh. The entirety of the unflaked areas of this flint are covered in a thick med brown cortex with some white areas. The object is a mottled off dark-grey colour mottled lighter white-grey.

Measurements:155mm long, 51.85mm wide, 53.12mm and 550g in weight.

Discussion: Despite the substantial cortex this object is a finished tool, as attested by the tranchet flake on the bottom side of the blade edge, known to be mployed to finish the tool.