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Fragments of a mould, and an axe

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From Jarlshof, Shetland and Struthers House, Fife

Fragments of a mould, and an axe
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These fragments of a clay mould for casting a bronze axe were found at Jarlshof in Shetland. The bronze axe, of a type similar to that which the mould produced, was found at Struthers House in Fife. They date from between 950 and 750 BC.

Fragments of each half (or valve) of a two-piece mould survive. They were secured together and molten metal poured into the channel at the top. The resulting axe had a small loop near its socket, as does the pictured axe from Fife.

Excavations at Jarlshof have revealed evidence of bronze-working. A smith, trained in the Irish tradition of bronze-working, built a large hearth in the centre of a house and set up a workshop. Finds include awls, chisels, clay moulds, crucibles and slag.

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