Axehead of bronze

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This bronze axehead was found near Annan in Dumfriesshire. It is of a type made in northern Germany, and was either imported from there to Scotland or copied from a German example between 1450 and 1200 BC.

The almost square socket mouth is slightly imperfect. The loop has broken on one side.

This axehead demonstrates the existence of links across the North Sea during the late second millennium BC. These links were probably connected with the supply of bronze from bronze-rich areas to Scandinavia, which lacked native supplies.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-103-032-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DE 80
• Date: 1450 - 1200 BC
  Between 1450 and 1200 BC
  
• Material: Bronze; broken loop on one side; almost square socket mouth
  Chisel / axe
  
• Dimensions: 3.19" L x 1.25" W across cutting edge
  
• What: Chisel / axe
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Dumfriesshire, Annan (Small farm near Annan)
  
• Event:
• Description: Bronze socketed chisel or narrow axe head with a broken loop on one side and an almost square socket mouth, from a farm near Annan, Dumfriesshire, 1450 - 1200 BC
  
• References:
  • Coles, John M. Scottish late Bronze Age metalwork: typology, distributions and chronology. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 93 (1959-1960), pp 16-134, esp. pp 17, 68. 
• Translations:
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