Axehead

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This copper axehead was found at Pitlochry in Perthshire. It is an early example of a metal axehead, made sometime between 2500 and 2100 BC.

The axehead has a wide butt which has been hammered. Its cutting edge is blunted. Axes of this shape are not common in Scotland. They were made primarily in Ireland and the Continent, but probably also in Scotland.

The first axeheads in Scotland were of copper. Later axes were made with of bronze - an alloy of around 90% copper and 10% tin.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-034-245-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DA 58
• Date: Between 2500 and 2100 BC
  Bronze Age
  
• Material: Copper; butt hammered; cutting edge blunted
  Axe, flat
  
• Dimensions: 4.75" x 2.50"
  
• What: Axe, flat
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Perthshire, Pitlochry
  
• Event:
• Description: Bronze Age copper flat axe head, from Pitlochry, Perthshire
  
• References:
  • Coles, John M. Scottish Early Bronze Age metalwork. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 101 (1968-9), 1-110, esp. pp 2, 84. 
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