Copper flat axe, Stair Estate
These are prehistoric copper axes. They were made between 2200
BC and 2000 BC.
They were found on Boreland farm, Inch, Stranraer. We don't know
when the discovery was made but the axes were exhibited in Glasgow
in 1911 by the Earl of Stair. A lot of archaeological objects were
found during agricultural improvements on the Stair estates in the
19th century and kept in a private collection at Lochinch Castle.
In 1964 this collection - including the Boreland axes - was given
to Stranraer Museum.
Flat copper axes like this are some of the earliest metal objects
in Britain. They were in use at the start of the Bronze Age, around
2200 BC.
Archaeologists think that most copper flat axes found in Scotland
were actually made in Ireland. But it is possible that some axes
from Dumfries and Galloway were made using locally mined copper. In
the late 18th century a hoard of prehistoric copper ingots or bars
was found at Tonderghie near Whithorn. The find spot was close to
the only large deposit of copper ore in Wigtownshire and raises the
intriguing possibility that copper was being mined here during the
Bronze Age.
Object no :
SRAM012n
Collection :
Creator :
NA
Place of Production :
Ireland?
Dimensions :
length 175mm
Materials :
copper
Location :
NA
Accession number :
WIWMS1964.8
Copyright :
Dumfries & Galloway Council