Flanged Axehead, Holywood
Steilston Farm, Holywood
An early Bronze Age flat axe found in a drain cutting near
Holywood. With a slightly curved narrow butt tapering out to a
d-shaped broad curved blade, this axe is decorated on both faces
with curved ridges parallel to the edge of blade. Both sides have
been carved to display lines which curve into a lozenge
shape. The sides of this axe have been hammered to produce
small flanges, these would have prevented the axe head from
slipping sideways when it was hafted (attached to a handle or
strap).
Early Bronze Age flat axes
Early metal tools were simple because the stone moulds used for
casting could only be produced in basic shapes. They were often
made of copper, but although copper ore was available in the
Glentrool area there is no evidence that it was exploited. It seems
more likely that tools were imported from Ireland. These axe heads
would have been hafted to an L shaped piece of wood. The short
section was split to hold the axe head, which was then bound into
position.
The first metalwork
Metal working was a complex and lengthy process. A small pit was
dug, filled with crushed ore and charcoal, and then ignited. The
temperature was raised by using bellows, perhaps made of animal
skin. Once smelting had occurred the molten metal collected in a
crucible and tipped into the mould. After cooling the casting was
removed and hammered to smooth any rough edges. Cutting edges on
axe heads would have been sharpened by hammering or grinding. When
stone moulds were in use shapes tended to be simple, but about
3,500 years ago multiple section clay moulds were developed which
enabled more complicated shapes to be made.
Early Bronze Age metal workers used pure copper, but this made
objects which were flexible in use and difficult to cast. After a
period of experimentation, bronze, an alloy of 90 per cent copper
and 10 per cent tin was developed. In Dumfries and Galloway most
Bronze Age metalwork has been found on lowlands and in river
valleys. The River Nith especially has revealed many finds, perhaps
because traders and settlers used it to move between the Solway
shores and Ayrshire.
References:
COLES, John - "Bronze Age Metalwork in Dumfries
and Galloway", TDGNHAS, 3rd series, Volume 42, p61-98, 1965
STEVENSON, R B K - "Note on some Bronze Axes",
TDGNHAS, 3rd series, Volume 26, p123-125, 1949
Object no :
RPD0065
Collection :
Creator :
NA
Place of Production :
NA
Dimensions :
length: 143 mm width (blade): 80 mm depth: 11 mm
Materials :
Metal
Location :
Steilston Farm, Holywood
Accession number :
1960.78
Copyright :
NA