Find Spot record 77 - Bronze Age palstave

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Summary

A looped palstave with plain faces found during construction of the Manchester Ship Canal around 1892. A palstave is a type of bronze age cast in a two piece mould. It has flanges to allow a wooden or bone handle to be hafted to the axe and a ridge in the centre to stop the handle being forced forwards during use. Some types have a loop to aid the hafting.

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Type and Period (1)

FINDSPOT (Bronze Age - 2600 BC to 801 BC)

Full Description

<1> Shone W, 1911, Prehistoric Man in Cheshire, p.68 (Book). SCH2710.

A looped palstave with plain faces found during construction of the Manchester Ship Canal c.1892. Illustrated.

<2> Davey P & Forster E, 1975, Bronze Age Metalwork from Lancashire and Cheshire (Monograph). SCH488.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ48SE6/1959 (Index). SCH2487.

Original is lost, casts are in Shaw Museum, Runcorn (now at Norton Priory) and the Grosvenor Museum

<4> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, Artefact Record Sheet, No.375 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

Plain, bronze palstave with side loop. The end of cutting edge is chipped, also the edge of the blade, flanges and butt. Cast in Grosvenor Museum.

<5> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, Record Card, No.375 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<6> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, Vol 50 (1934-5), p.85 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

Looped palstave from near Runcorn. Length circa 5.5 inches

Sources/Archives (6)

<1>XY SCH2710 Book: Shone W. 1911. Prehistoric Man in Cheshire. p.68. [Mapped feature: #40055 ]
<2> SCH488 Monograph: Davey P & Forster E. 1975. Bronze Age Metalwork from Lancashire and Cheshire. University of Liverpool Dept. of Prehistoric Archaeology Work Notes 1.
<3> SCH2487 Index: Ordnance Survey. 1870-1982. Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card. SJ48SE6/1959.
<4> SCH2005 Paper Archive: Longley D. 1977-1978. Longley Archive. Artefact Record Sheet, No.375.
<5> SCH2005 Paper Archive: Longley D. 1977-1978. Longley Archive. Record Card, No.375.
<6> SCH3293 Journal/Periodical: Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society. 1883 -. Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society. Vol 50 (1934-5), p.85.

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Location

Grid reference	SJ 498 824 (point)
Map sheet	SJ48SE
Historic Township/Parish/County	RUNCORN, RUNCORN, CHESHIRE
Civil Parish	RUNCORN & WIDNES NON PARISH AREA, HALTON

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

Record last edited

Apr 1 2025 12:23PM