Description

Summary: 1 syenite replica of axe-mould for two socketed and looped celts (one with two loops and the other with one) originally found near Bulford, Amesbury.

Research results

A plaster of paris replica of a stone axe mould found near Bulford camp, in Amesbury, the original mould is now held in the collections of the Salisbury Museum (accession no. SBYWM:1C3B.1). The mould would have been used to cast two socketed axeheads, a type of weapon first introduced c. 1400 BC, although they would become more widely used in the later Bronze Age. The stone used has been identified as probably a non-local Keratophyre, and it is one of a number of stone Axe moulds found in central southern England which appear to have been transported some distance.

The original was discussed as part of the wider context of non-ferrous metal working in the Middle Bronze Age to Early Iron Age by Webley, Adams and Bruck (2020). They argue that in this period there is relatively widespread evidence for small scale metalworking at a variety of settlement types, and thus argue for a decentralised model for its organisation, although this may not be the case for precious metal and high status objects such as shields and cauldrons.