The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Lincolnshire and Humberside

News

Bronze Age Axe Head 'Too Heavy' Theory


A Bronze Age axe head unearthed in a Lincolnshire field is baffling archaeologists - because they think it is too heavy to use.

Made of stone, the axe head weighs 4.4lb and was produced some time between 2000BC and 1600BC. It was found when a walker stumbled across it last summer in a farmer's field near Scotter, north of Gainsborough.

Once the axe head was cleaned it was reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme - a project run by North Lincolnshire Council which records artefacts found by the public.

The artefact is a traditional axe shape and features a hole through the middle where a stick would have been placed as a handle. Archaeologists often refer to these items as axe hammers.

But principal keeper of archaeology Kevin Leahy (57) said the artefact would have been hard to use. Continues here...
Jane Posted by Jane
13th January 2004ce
Edited 13th January 2004ce

Comments (0)

You must be logged in to add a comment