A substantial British Middle Bronze-age palstave axe head. Of type Worthing with deep lateral flanges, deep mid-stops, one lateral loop, blade with ledge and flared edge; impressed shield motif to each face, and with a broad crescentic blade.
 
Middle Bronze Age: Circa 1500-1300 BC.
 
Very Fine condition; good bronze; surfaces a little pitted in places.
Length 16.8 cms (6.6 ins).
Weight 520 grams.
 
Provenance Found Lincolnshire, UK.
 
NB: Current UK legislation would require this item to have an export licence if sent outside of the UK. We will carry out this procedure at no extra charge, but it may take up to 2-4 weeks for the DCMS to return and approve the application.
 
Literature: Cf. Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C.B., The Axes of Scotland and Northern England, Prähistorische Bronzefunde, Ab. IX, vol. 7, Munich, 1981, item 917.
For a similar shield pattern, refer to fig. 81: The Ancient Bronze Implements: by John Evans, for an axehead from Bottisham Lode, Cambridge.
 
The "Worthing" type typically features a broad crescentic blade and was a technical improvement over earlier flanged axes due to the addition of a stop-ridge, which allowed for more secure hafting.