Object: Socketed Axe
Period: Bronze Age
Collection: Hulder, Mr.,6 Macarthers Rd., Northleach, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Site: England,Wiltshire,Shrewton,Rollestone Camp,Found by NMr. Hibler on 13 March 81; in the course of work to remove the temporary fencing within the army camp of Rollestonr, he noticed the axe lying on the ground surface in an area of grass which had been slightly churned by the wheels of vehicles, but had only been disturbed to a depth of around 2 inches.
Parish: Shrewton
County: Wiltshire
Country: England
Grid reference: SU 0945 4495
Year of discovery: 1981
Length (mm): 113
Width (mm): 33
Edge (mm): 34
Surface: Black-green patina, much concealed by pale green granular-textured accretion (?); v. little bright gold on very edge of blade - mainly in centre, assoc. with small dents.
Description: Dimensions: L 112.5mm; We 34.3; Wm 32.8; min W. 22.9; Bm 32.5; Blp 6; DS 71.5 (?+),Typology: central rib with rounded crest and steep walls in cross section, but leading to flatten towards tip; m. top flat to slightly outsloped; body angles mainly a little rounded,Manufacture: broken surfaces on m. top suggest two bases of runners, above faces; cg. flashes quite broad, crests flattened by hammer, but only fully removed along lower blade; hints of bl. tip hollows but flanking ridges largely levelled off by anc. grinding - horiz. scmks.; crinoline bl. prob. due to expansion - assoc. bevel and hammer ripples on rev. where p. visible, as well as numerous grmks. approx. horiz. which go beneath accretion.,Condition: probably intact edge prior to minimal patina flaking and modern interference.,Attached Material: when submitted calcareous soil adhered to exterior and base of socket; traces of fawn soil and soil bump in s. end - not core like.
Remarks: PIF; DF(C); SI; CI,SN May 81,Source: MV & SB. I.,Sub. Inf: Aron Saville - Chettenham M. enquiry 14/3/81