Date c: 9000 - 4000 BC: Northern Cambridgeshire – Fen Edge: Doggerland context- see picture 8:
Measurements: length: 159.1mm; width: 55.3mm; thickness: 43.1mm: weight: 470.59g.
The pick is irregular, elongated and pointed and oval in shape with a broadly lozenge form in section with a 25 degree shift to the shoulder: There are transverse and longitudinal flake scars with some rippling seen on all faces: One face has a deep elongated triangular removal with a V shaped cross-section: The distal end is wedge-shaped in profile with a broadly convex cutting edge: The butt end is narrow and rounded with parallel flake reduction present: One of the five faces of the tool has areas of the original cortex remaining: The axe is worked from a pale brown to tan opaque flint with a buff cream coloured cortex:
Provenance: of the finder Jan: 2024:
The object was recovered whilst walking within a frozen field drainage ditch at a depth of 5 feet below the adjacent arable ground level: I have recovered Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age material in this area 2.5 miles south-east from the village of Holme – Northern Cambridgeshire:
Note:
Butler (2005:99) notes that in the South-East there is an apparent increase in the use of these tools in the later Mesolithic, whereas in other areas of Britain they are associated with the earlier Mesolithic assemblages. Tranchet axe heads were hafted, probably into a wooden handle or antler sleeve, as evidenced by examples from Denmark and likely used for various woodworking tasks such as boat building rather then the cutting down of trees. (ibid:101). This example could be classified as a Hassocks type adze given its size and one flat surface, (ibid: 103), they also tend to be cruder with more cortex remaining:
Reference material and further reading:
Where possible ancient artifacts may be referenced to similar material observed in the following publications within my collection:
British Artefacts Vol.1, 2 and 3: Brett Hammond [Greenlight Publishing 2010]:
Celtic & Roman Artefacts: Nigel Mills [Greenlight Publishing 2007]:
SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome: Mary Beard [Profile Books 2015]:
50 Bronze Age Artefacts: Portable Antiquities Scheme: Dot Boughton [Amberley Publishing 2021]:
Pottery in Britain 4000BC to AD 1900: Lloyd Laing [Greenlight Publishing 2003]:
British Iron Age Coins In The British Museum: Richard Hobbs [British Museum 1996]:
Swords of The Viking Age: Ian Peirce: [The Boydell Press 2003]:
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society Volume 85: [Cambridge University Press
2019]
Mesolithic Europe: Geoff Bailey / Penny Spikins [Cambridge University Press 2008]
Viking Art: James Graham-Campbell: [Thames & Hudson, London 2018]
Roman Coins Vol. 1, 2 & 3: David R Sear: [Spink London 2000]:
The Roman Cavalry: Karen R. Dixon: [B. . Batsford 1997]:
Rome’s Saxon Shore: Coastal Defenses of Roman Britain AD 250 – 500: Nic Fields [Osprey Publishing 2006]:
Amulets of Ancient Egypt: Carol Andrews: [University of Texas Press / British Museum Press 1994]:
The Uniforms of the Roman World: Military dress, weapons, artillery, ships, siege engines and fortifications: Kevin F. Killey: [Anness Publishing 2017]:
Where possible finger rings may be referenced to similar material observed in the following publications within my collection:
Victorian and Albert Museum CATALOGUE OF FINGER RINGS 1930: C.C.Oman [Anglia Publishing. 1991 – Now out of print]:
Finger Rings: Diana Scarisbrick / Martin Henig: [Ashmolean Museum Oxford. 2003]:
Ancient Rings An Illustrated Collectors Guide: T. N. Polio: [ McFarland & Co Inc. 2018:
1000 Rings: Inspiring Adornments of the Hand: Le Van, Marthe; Ebendorf, Robert [W: Lark Books 2004]:
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