UNKNOWN MINIATURE OBJECT

-1150

An incomplete cast copper-alloy miniature socketed axe head of probable Late Iron Age to Roman date. It is missing one corner of the blade due to old breaks but is otherwise complete. The axe is of socketed type with triangular profile, tapering to a rounded blade end that is worn and exhibits evidence of post-depositional damage. At the socket end the object is oval shaped in section with two moulded transverse ridges and a small oval shaped side loop or handle. The centre of the socket end has a shallow circular indentation or drilled hole that represents the socket. The surfaces of the object have the remains of a brown patina, but also demonstrate wear and evidence of pale green copper-alloy corrosion. It measures 31.02mm in length, 16.57mm in width at blade end, 16.40mm in width at socket end, 9.72mm in thickness, and weighs 13.11g.This is a miniature socketed axe, possibly votive in function and perhaps utilised as a pendant or amulet. Similar examples are noted on the PAS database (for example WILT-33B468, BERK-EFD565 or KENT-8A22A5) and the current example shares similarities with Robinson's Type 1 miniature axes (Robinson, 1995: pp. 60-61). These suggest a date range spanning the end of the Bronze Age through Roman periods for the current example.