Axehead

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This bronze axehead was found at Aikbrae in Peeblesshire. It dates from around 1300 to 1150 BC.

The distinctive shaped axehead is a type called a palstave. It has a loop on one side, though which a thong might have been fed to help secure the axehead to the haft. Palstaves of this form, with their long narrow blades, continued to be used into the Late Bronze Age in Britain.

The use of two (or more) piece clay moulds allowed more sophisticated axeheads to be made. Palstaves developed from flanged axeheads. They had recesses on each face into which the split end of a haft could be slotted.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-034-283-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DC 2
• Date: Between 1300 and 1150 BC
  
• Material: Bronze; loop on one side
  Palstave
  
• Dimensions: 6.50" x 1.75"
  
• What: Palstave
  
• Subject:
• Who: Sim Collection
  
• Where: Scotland, Peeblesshire, Aikbrae
  
• Event:
• Description: Bronze Age bronze transitional palstave from Aikbrae
  
• References:
  • Coles, J.M. Scottish Middle Bronze Age Metalwork. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquities of Scotland, 97 (1963-64), pp 82-156, esp. 100-101, 137. 
• Translations:
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