The Cumbrian type of Polished Stone Axe and its distribution in Britain

Abstract

In May 1955 Professor Grahame Clark noticed a stone axe from Langwood Fen in the collection of Mr F. Walker of Manea. Its exotic character stood out among well known Fenland flint types and he asked me to arrange a petrological examination and to describe the implement. The axe (fig. 1) is dark brown in colour with much of the polished surfaces roughened through oxidization, probably from underlying peat. The blue-grey, fine-grained nature of the stone shows through in fresh scars on both surfaces, which suggest its recent use as a whetstone, and in a modern chip at the butt. It is 10⅞ inches long, with a maximum width of 3 inches. The convex cutting edge is slightly asymetrical and 3⅛ inches wide, while the maximum thickness is 1¾ inches. There is a distinct waisting, or constriction, toward the butt which is rather square and 1¾ inches wide. Both edges have been ground into lateral facets ⅜ inch wide about the middle of the implement, tapering toward the butt and cutting edge. In its present state the axe weighs 3½ lbs.

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