Bronze Age Celtic Axe Head

$498.87

A finely cast bronze Celtic socketed axe head with a rectangular body, expanding outwards to a convex cutting edge. Three horizontal ridges decorate the sides, the casting seam is visible above and below where the two halves have been joined. A small loop has been attached at the lower part of the axe and would have been used to secure the axe head to a wooden shaft.

Date: Circa 10th - 9th century BC
Provenance: ound in the South of England, previously owned by Alexander Cotton, Brockenhurst, Hampshire during the 1970's
Condition: Very good condition. Green patination covers the surface.

SOLD

SKU: MG-65 Category: Tags: ,

The Celts were a collection of tribal groups with origins in central Europe as early as 1200 B.C. Living through the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age (700 BC – 400 AD), these tribes and their culture migrated and established their presence throughout western Europe, including Britain, Ireland, France and Spain. During this time, Celtic metalworking saw a rapid technological development. The manufacture of tools and weapons increased and specialised in producing equipment for shaving, woodworking, and metalworking. Axe heads such as this one would have been used primarily for clearing woodland and for shaping timber, but would also have proved useful in battles. They were widely distributed across Celtic territories, and have been mainly recovered in southern and western England, concentrating in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

To discover more about Celtic culture, please visit our relevant blog post: Bronze Age Britain.

Weight 237.4 g
Dimensions L 9.2 x W 4.9 cm
Culture

Region

Metal

Time Period

Reference: For a similar item, please see The British Museum, item 1966,1208.3

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