Flanged Axehead, Raeburn Bog
Raeburn Bog, Eskdalemuir
This flanged axehead was discovered in Raeburn Bog in 1873. From
the collection of Dr Grierson, this object is believed to be from
the Middle Bronze Age. It has a Long, chisel type shape with curved
blade and narrow uneven flanges.
Middle Bronze Age palstave axes
The quality of metalwork improved greatly during this period.
Stone moulds continued to be used, but clay moulds became more
common. Smiths began to use an alloy of copper and tin which
enabled them to make objects with more complex shapes, and of
greater length. Palstave axes developed from the flanged axes of
the early Bronze Age, and had a pocket on either side of the axe
into which the split ends of the haft could be fitted.
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.
Object no :
RPD0072
Collection :
Creator :
NA
Place of Production :
NA
Dimensions :
length: 105 mm width (blade): 30 mm depth: 13 mm
Materials :
Bronze
Location :
Raeburn Bog, Eskdalemuir
Accession number :
1965.678
Copyright :
NA