Bronze Age Decorated Socketed Axe Head

£ 400.00

A very fine European Bronze Age socketed axe head cast from bronze, featuring a side loop. The casting seam is visible above and below where the two halves have been joined. Raised grooves and a dot in relief decorate the body of the axe, identical on both sides. Beautiful green patination covers the surface.

Date: Circa 3200-600 BC
Condition: Very fine condition, a small dent to the blade.

SOLD

SKU: CS-239 Category: Tag:

European Bronze Age farmers differed from their stone-cutting predecessors – they used horses and chariots to work, kept flocks of sheep to make woolen clothing and used bronze as a standard commodity of exchange. The technological development that occurred in that time was rapid: the manufacture of tools and weapons increased and specialised equipment for shaving, woodworking and metalworking was created. Axes such as this one would have been used primarily for clearing woodland and for shaping timber but would also have proved useful in battles. Although, axe heads would have been also buried with the deceased, hence their frequent occurrence in archaeological excavations of ancient cemeteries.

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

Weight 223.2 g
Dimensions L 10.4 cm
Culture

Metal

Region

Time Period

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