MAS-O100203: MAS-O100203; City of Portsmouth; Handaxe; Image 3 of 3

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HANDAXE

Unique ID: MAS-O100203

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Published Find published

Images of this find were sent to Andrew Shaw, flint specialist at Wessex Archaeology who determined that this object is an ovate biface handaxe that is in mint condition. This example is approximately 50-60 mm in width and 80-100 mm in long-axis. He said that the form of the butt and lateral margins are reminiscent of late Middle Palaeolithic handaxes, and it's possible that deposits of that age may be found in the intertidal and offshore zone in. Based on the images alone, he said that it's possibly a late Middle Palaeolithic handaxe dating from between 60,000 to 30,000 years ago. Handaxes are the longest used tools in human history, used for cutting, digging and hunting. This artefact exhibits bilateral symmetry with a pointed tip and rounded base.

Class: Tools and equipment
Sub class: cutting equipment

Subsequent actions

Current location of find: With finder

Chronology

Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: PALAEOLITHIC
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: PALAEOLITHIC

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 100 mm
Width: 60 mm

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Friday 3rd August 2018

Personal details

Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Recorded by: Mr Robbie Trevelyan
Identified by: Andrew Shaw

Materials and construction

Primary material: Flint
Manufacture method: Knapped/flaked
Completeness: Complete

Spatial metadata

County or Unitary authority: City of Portsmouth (Unitary Authority)

Spatial coordinates

4 Figure: SU6700
Four figure Latitude: 50.79570064
Four figure longitude: -1.05072543
1:25K map: SU6700
1:10K map: SU60SE
Display four figure position on What3Words
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Coastal walking
Discovery circumstances: Below the high tide mark in the silt near Eastney, Portsmouth
Current location: With finder

References cited

No references cited so far.

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Audit data

Recording Institution: MAS
Created: Friday 3rd August 2018
Updated: Tuesday 31st March 2020

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