Small Bronze Age Socketed Axe Head

$375.76

An extremely well-preserved European Bronze Age socketed axe head cast in bronze featuring a side loop and a hollow shaft which would have been attached to a wooden haft. The casting seam is visible above and below where the two halves have been joined.  Beautiful green patination covering the surface.

Date: Circa 3200-600 BC
Condition: Very good condition. Complete and intact.

SOLD

SKU: CS-238 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 woollen 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 165.9 g
Dimensions L 7.7 cm
Culture

Region

Metal

Time Period

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