Axehead

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This bronze axehead was found at Abdie in Fife, probably in a hoard containing at least one other axehead. It was buried, probably as a gift to the gods, sometime between 2250 and 1900 BC.

The sides of the flat axehead have been hammered into three facets. It is damaged at the cutting edge and broken across the middle.

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: 000-190-004-227-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DA 62
• Date: Between 2250 and 1950 BC
  Early Bronze Age
  
• Material: Bronze; slightly imperfect at cutting edge; fractured across middle; tinning on one face
  Axe, flat
  
• Dimensions: 5.88" x 3.25"
  
• What: Axe, flat
  
• Subject:
• Who: Sturrock Collection
  
• Where: Scotland, Fife, Abdie
  
• Event:
• Description: Early Bronze Age flat axe, fractured across middle, showing tinning on one face, from Abdie, Fife
  
• 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, 34, 82, 105. 
• Translations:
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