Object: Socketed Axe Stone Mould
Classification: 2 matrices
Period: Bronze Age
Collection: Salisbury, Sals, & S. Wilts. Museum,Formerly in Pitt Rivers Museum, Farnham, Dorset, P 1173,Purchased as Lot 120 at Sotheby's Sale of Duke Collection, July 1895
Site: England,Wiltshire,Bulford,"found near Nine Mile Water..."
Discovery context: auction
Parish: Bulford
County: Wiltshire
Country: England
Grid reference: c. SU 17 43
Year of discovery: NA
Length (mm): 14
Edge (mm): 47
Surface: Speckled black/grey stone with pink tinges; face around Matrix 2 much blackened - esp. up to 5mm from edge of matrix; odd two patches of darkening only around matrix 1; ends and sides also with some darkening. Crack in stone across one side; occasional chip out of edge, especially at top of mould beside respective mouth-mouldings; inside of two matrix 1 loops very battered - that of Matrix 2 only a little; ribs, scorings of M.2 still quite crisp; ribs seem worn on M.1; flaw in stone on lower blade of matrix 2.
Description: Dimensions: Length: Matrix 1: 13.7mm; Matrix 2: 107mm,Width: blade Matrix 1: 47mm; blade Matrix 2 41mm; Width mouth Matrix 1: 47mm; Width mouth Matrix 2: 52mm; Width axe face beneath moulding Matrix 1: 32.5mm; Width axe face beneath moulding Matrix 2: 34mm; Width body below loop Matrix 1: 38.5mm; Width body below loop Matrix 2: 42.5mm,Depth moulding Matrix 1: 9.5mm; Depth moulding Matrix 2: 8.5mm,Length ribs Matrix 1: 59mm (below base of moulding); Length ribs Matrix 2 53mm (below base of moulding),Depth matrix at moulding Matrix 1: 22mm; Depth matrix at moulding Matrix 2: 20.5mm,Wedge-shaped block, opposite faces converging; ends flat and also not quite parallel; sides bowed, thin end: two grooves off long edge with smaller notch in between, v. slight groove off either side?; thick end: central groove, other diffuse notches flanking - poss. damage; Matrix 1: marked ledge below slightly splayed moulding; rectangular body section with rib-emphasised corners; 3 straight slightly converging ribs; two loops - one springing from moulding, other from just below; spatulate blade forms towards edge; loop grooves with neat 'V' section; one corner rib continues straight where body expands; ribs 'V' sectioned. Matrix 2: upside down from Matrix 1; ledge under slightly splayed moulding; bowed rectangular body section - sides more splayed; rib-emphasised, or crisp body corners; three parallel ribs, not evenly spaced; loop groove with near 'V' section, springing from just below moulding; body parallel sided for much of axe; ribs 'V' sectioned, and tail away to nothing.
Publications: Evans, 188, 143, 432,Goddard, 1913, 217,W.A.M. 28, 260-1,W.A.M. 17, 36,W.A.M. 10, 18.
Remarks: Thin sectioned - B.M. (Nat. HIst.),White ink inscr. "Mould in syenite - Lot 120, Soth. July 95, Duke Coll: found near Bulford, Amesbury, P:1173",SN 9 Mar. 78,PI(O),Submitted by P. Saunders for sectioning and recording 2.2.78.