Description

Summary: 1 flint axe (polished with a sharp edge) found by the feet of a primary male and female (shaman/metalworker?) inhumation in bowl barrow Upton Lovell G2a, excavated by William Cunnington

Research results

A polished flint axehead found with the primary double-inhumation of the Bronze Age barrow Upton Lovell G2a by William Cunnington in the early 19th century. This burial was recorded as being of a man and a woman, and contained a large number of unusual grave goods. Many of these grave goods are now thought to be metal working tools, and the unusual contents of the grave led to it being dubbed the 'Shaman burial'.

This object and the other grave goods found with the Upton Lovell G2a primary double-burial have been examined by Tsoraki et al. (in prep.) as part of the Beyond the Three Age System project. This analysis identified use wear consistent with its use as a woodworking tool.