Examining the British and Irish Early Bronze Age flat axes of the Greenwell Collection at the British Museum

Abstract

This paper presents the results of metalwork wear-analysis carried out on British and Irish Early Bronze Age copper and copper-alloy flat axes from the collection of Rev. Greenwell (1820-1918) held at the British Museum. Greenwell was a prolific and well-known British antiquarian; part of his collection was sold to John Pierpont Morgan who donated the axes to the museum in 1908. This paper focuses on the copper and copper-alloy flat axes from within this collection, which date to c. 2500-1700 cal BC and are the earliest form of metal axe in Britain and Ireland. The 38 axes are drawn from across Britain and Ireland, and whilst the contextual information associated with them is not complete this paper shows that there is still much we can learn from these objects using metalwork wear-analysis. In addition, some methodological insights are drawn from this analysis: in particular the paper advocates for more detailed recording of corrosion and specific recording of wear marks to the butts of axes. Highlights • This paper presents the results of metalwork wear-analysis carried out on copper and copper-alloy flat axes from Britain and Ireland held by the British Museum as part of the Greenwell Collection • It argues for the recording of additional data during metalwork wear-analysis regarding corrosion which can allow practitioners to interpret information regarding hafting. • At present, it is standard to observe wear on the blades of axes, however, this paper argues that analysis of the butt can also be informative • The paper demonstrates that the majority of axes deposited at this time were used but that the nature of that use was varied. Many axes were deposited whilst still suitable for use and some were even sharpened prior to deposition. • The paper also reveals some specific histories of different axes that were combined in hoards and indicates the potential for further research focused on hoarding in the Early Bronze Age.

Secrets of the Drava: Bronze Age Metalwork in Continental Croatia

“…the surface (Roberts and Ottaway 2003, 120; Horn 2013). Tight patterns of short scratches on the cutting edge, above the longer scratches and scrapes, might have occurred while the blade was sharpened, although they could also indicate splitting (Roberts and Ottaway 2003; Crellin 2018, 868, fig. 4).…”

Bronze Age Swordsmanship: New Insights from Experiments and Wear Analysis

“…The analysis was conducted by one of the authors (RH) following the methodology described in Dolfini and Crellin (2016), adapting the analytical protocol laid out in Dolfini (2011) and Crellin (2018). No casts of the prehistoric swords were taken.…”

The mechanised testing and sequential wear‐analysis of replica Bronze Age palstave blades

“…Emerging to prominence during the period 1,500–1,000 BCE, the palstave axe represents the third major typological development in bronze axe morphology during the Bronze Age in Britain and the first axe type to include a stopridge. Previous studies have detailed traces of woodworking on a number of variants of Bronze Age axes: Scottish flat axes (Moyler, 2007); British and Irish flat axes (Crellin, 2017); flanged axes of the North‐Alpine region (Kienlin & Ottaway, 1998); and, socketed axes of Yorkshire and Scotland (Roberts & Ottaway, 2003). In each of the aforementioned studies, a considerable proportion of axes were found to demonstrate evidence of use.…”