Monument record MDO18449 - Middle Farm, Dorchester; Palaeolithic handaxe

A palaeolithic flint handaxe was recovered from a surface patch of clay-with-flints in Trench 1 of the 1992 Wessex Archaeology excavations at Middle Farm, Dorchester. The handaxe is a sub-cordate hand-axe of Wymer's Type G.

A flint handaxe was recovered from a surface patch of clay-with-flints in Trench 1 of the 1992 Wessex Archaeology excavations at Middle Farm, Dorchester. <1>

The handaxe is described by Phil Harding as a "sub-cordate Palaeolithic hand-axe of Wymer's Type G, having a pointed tip, slightly curving edges and a heavy crudely trimmed butt […]. It measures 113 mm long, 73mm wide and 35mm thick and is in a mint/sharp condition with a lighlty patinated glossy surface. Small patches of cortex on both sides suggest that it was made on a relatively thin nodule of good-quality flint. The flaking round the tip, which has a rounded tranchet edge, is well executed and shows the work of a skilled knapper. The edges have been trimmed extensively and one edge is dulled , suggesting that the functional part of the tool was the tip. One side is completely flaked whereas the second side is partially thinned, resulting in a profile that thickens towards the base.". <2>

<1> Wymer, J, 1993, The Southern Rivers Palaeolithic Project: the Upper Thames Valley, the Kennet Valley and the Solent drainage system, 117 (Monograph). SWX4473.

<2> Butterworth, C , and Gibson, C, 2004, Neolithic Pits and a Bronze Age Field System at Middle Farm, Dorchester. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 21 (Article in serial). SDO9654.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1090913 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 28 2022 1:10PM