Object: Cast Flanged Axe
Period: Bronze Age
Collection: Radcliffe, Lancs.,Museum of the Radcliffe District Lit. and Sc. Soc., 1950.
Site: England,Lancashire,Radcliffe,Confluence of Rivers Irwell and Ronch,Found in Alluvial soil by workmen of gravel firm.
Discovery context: river
Parish: Hurlingham
County: Lancashire
Country: England
Year of discovery: NA
Length (mm): 101
Width (mm): 19
Edge (mm): 56
Thickness (mm): 11
Weight (g): 177
Patina: Appears to have been dark and cleaned off: bright metal visible on edges.
Surface: Smooth; a few minute cracks; well preserved.
Composition: Bronze
Other: Width: edge 56mm; centre 21mm; below butt 19mm,Thickness: butt tip 2mm; centre 11mm; height of flanges 17mm,Weight: just over 6 1/4 oz. = 177.1845mm
Associations: A number of "pieces of brass" were collected from one spot by the workman from whom this axe was obtained, also some pottery: the rest went into the dustbin. Probably part of a bronze hoard.
Description: Flanges in 3 facets tapering to below thin butt, around which a crack suggests casting in a double mould imperfectly [armealed?]. No stop-ridge. Below the centre on one face are 6 slightly raised dots - on both faces are traces of 3 curved ridges concentric with widely splayed cutting edge, which has evidently been reground in antiquity.
Publications: "Manchester Guardian", 24 May 1950, with photo (1/1)
Remarks: Found in a prolific area of 100 acres that has produced objects of Mesolithic, Bronze Age, Roman Period during recent exploration.,Information from Mr. Allan Spencer, Hon. Curator, Radcliffe Local History Museum,28.xi.50