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Late Bronze Age bronze socketed axe

Complete three ribbed socketed axe of slender form. Thin and prominent outsplayed mouth moulding, from which a high placed loop extends. Three longitudinal ribs extend from the underside of the moulding on each face and are slightly convergent. The external and internal mouth outlines are sub-rectangular in shape. Three runner stubs and one runner scar are present along the mouth top. The socket base is even in shape. The sides of the axe are straight and slightly divergent, expanding slightly at the blade end to form the cutting edge. The face edges are crisply defined and the cross section of the body is rectangular. The casting seams are prominent, though blunt, and at one point where the original surface survives striations are visible, indicating some grinding after casting. The blade edge is totally corroded and is only slightly curved. Hammer facets along the upper blade margins, together with striations parallel to the blade edge, indicate that the axe was prepared for use. Many longitudinal scratches over the face surfaces appear to have been created during use, since some are interrupted by blade edge sharpening marks, whilst others seem to be partially covered by corrosion products and patinated surfaces. On upper faces, sides and on the interior socket walls is a back patina (tenorite). Other original surfaces are dark green, whilst worn and corroded surfaces on faces sides and blade edge are light green. One upper face has a small patch of blue azurite corrosion product, whilst in the lower socket are significant green carbonate encrustations.

Late Bronze Age bronze socketed axe
Image: © Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
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Collection Area

Archaeology & Numismatics

Item Number

2007.43H/4

Find Information

Site Name: Glascoed, Monmouthshire

Collection Method: metal detector
Date: 2001 / August

Notes: Discovered on a playing field near Glascoed, Llanbadoc Community by Mr Smith whilst metal detecting. All finds except 2007.43H/7 & /16 were found at depths of between 10-30cms. The other two finds were found in the detector pit on a subsequent visit to the site.

Acquisition

Purchase, 20/12/2007

Measurements

weight / g:314
length / mm:102.5
width / mm:47.7
thickness / mm:42.5

Material

bronze

Location

In store

Categories

Unassigned record verified by A. Gwilt
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