Axehead

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This bronze axehead was found with other bronze objects, including possibly another axehead, during ploughing of a field at Camptown near Haddington in East Lothian. It dates from between 2250 and 1900 BC.

The axehead is the most common form in the Early Bronze Age. As with most flat axeheads, it is undecorated.

The techniques used to make flat axeheads are simple but may have seemed magical to early people. First the shape was carved into a suitable stone. Metal was melted in a crucible and poured into the mould which was covered and allowed to cool. Then irregularities were hammered away and the edge was sharpened.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-042-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DA 28
• Date: 2250 - 1900 BC
  Between 2250 and 1900 BC
  
• Material: Bronze
  Axe, flat
  
• Dimensions: 5.75 x 3"
  
• What: Axe, flat
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, East Lothian, Haddington, Camptoun
  
• Event:
• Description: Bronze flat axe from Camptown, Haddington, East Lothian, 2250 - 1900 BC
  
• References:
  • Coles, John M. Scottish Early Bronze Age metalwork. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 101 (1968-9), 1-110, esp. pp 15-26, 82, 105. 
• Translations:
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