Object: Socketed Axe
Period: Bronze Age
Collection: Hammond, Mr. R - private,20 Grange Ave, Lea Grave, Luton, Beds.
Site: England,Greater London,River Thames Eastern Foreshore,Kew Old Deer Park,Found on 24 Aug. 1980, on the Thames foreshore opposite Isleworth Ait, by Mr. Hammond while metal-detecting, at a depth of 3 inches; findspot indicated by finder on map (DF).
Discovery context: river
Parish: Kew
County: Greater London
Country: England
Grid reference: TQ 168 759
Year of discovery: NA
Length (mm): 132
Width (mm): 43
Edge (mm): 54
Weight (g): 459
Surface: Mainly a dry, dull gold to dark brown surface, with odd patches of dustrier rusty brown - perhaps where the accretion was flaked recently; the calcareous accretion concentrated close to the mouth seams to be attached to a thin metal-based layer - possibly a patinated layer - this has evidently peeled off elsewhere with the accretion.
Associations: 8a. Single Find (O)
Description: Dimensions: L131.5mm; We 54.0; Wm 43.0; Bm 42.8; Blp 4.0; Ds 88; Wt. 458.6g,Typology: ribs emphasising body angles in addition to 3 central ones; s. end flat rectangular shape (visible after haft remains removed),Manufacture: some of terminal pellets completely absent - apparently miscast, but hammering may also have impinged from the blade edge, which retains a few hmks.; no blade tip hollows; cg. flashes well removed - on loop side the stump appears to run along an underlying bulge.,Condition: edge undamaged and sharp,Attached Material: Small dried out faggots of wood in socket - remains of original haft (dislodged and retained for analysis)
Remarks: Archive: PIF; AFI,PRBAF: DF(C); SI,Ext.: RSO 25/9/80; CI,Rec.: SN Dec. 80,Source: SB.A.,Sub. Inf.: 25/9/80