Find Spot record 2311 - Bronze Age Find from Marbury cum Quoisley

<1> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Foster TC, 1991 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

A Bronze Age palstave found in late April/May of 1991 after harrowing at Bank Farm, Marbury. The field had been ploughed to a depth of c.8ins previously, but since 1990 had been subsoiled to a depth of 18-24ins and then deep ploughed to 12-14ins. The find-spot was on a low terrace overlooking old stream bed to north.

<2> Davey, P. J., 1992, Bronze Age Palstave from Marbury (Unpublished Report). SCH489.

The palstave is 166mm, 53mm across at the widest point of the blade and 33mm thick at the stop-ridge. It weighs 421.52g. The axe has slightly expanded blade, pronounced stop-ridge and apparently wasted flanges. There is a trident design on either face. The septum is 7mm thick at the butt end and c.12mm thick at stop-ridge. There is no loop. Casting seams from a two part mould are visible on either side. The edge of the blade and small parts of the butt are missing. Surface is also corroded. Originally blade would have been more markedly splayed, in which case this axe probably dates to Burgess' Hotham Carr Phase of the Middle Bronze Age c.1000-1200 BC. Middle Bronze Age unlooped palstaves are not common in this region.