Axehead

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This bronze axehead was found at Cretshengan Farm at Kilberry in Argyll. It dates from around 1500 to 1150 BC.

The axehead has a relatively narrow blade and short cast flanges. It is much pitted and almost split across the centre. Flanged axeheads of this form are widely found in Scotland.

Offerings to the gods were often special material, treated in special ways or put in special places. Prestigious weapons such as axeheads or maceheads are sometimes found broken, probably part of a ceremony we can only guess at.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-076-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DC 132
• Date: 1500 - 1150 BC
  Between 1500 and 1150 BC
  
• Material: Bronze; much pitted and almost split across the centre, no stop ridges
  Axe, flanged
  
• Dimensions: 5.9 L x 2.5 W at cutting edge x 2.5 L of flanges x 0.75 W at but
  
• What: Axe, flanged
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Argyll, Kilberry, Cretshengan Farm
  
• Event:
• Description: Bronze flanged axe from Cretshengan Farm, Kilberry, Argyll, 1500 - 1150 BC
  
• References:
  • Coles, J.M. Scottish Middle Bronze Age Metalwork. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquities of Scotland, 97 (1963-64), pp 82-156, esp. 89-90, 133. 
• Translations:
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