Axehead

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This bronze axehead is from a hoard of five found in the water of Leith near Bell's Mill at Dean in Edinburgh. The hoard was buried between 950 and 750 BC.

The body of the socketed axehead has a slight waist. A wooden handle would have fitted into the axehead's socket. A thong through the loop could also have attached the axehead to the handle.

Axeheads were symbols of power and prestige for a long period, probably with religious significance as well. They were sometimes buried or deposited in watery places as offerings to the gods.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-082-619-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DE 19
• Date: Between 950 and 750 BC
  
• Material: Bronze
  Axe, socketed
  
• Dimensions: 3.50" x 2.00"
  
• What: Axe, socketed
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh, Dean, Bell's Mills
  
• Event:
• Description: Bronze socketed axe from Bell's Mills, Dean, Edinburgh
  
• 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 116-7. 
• Translations:
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