Find Spot record MDO2359 - South Avenue, Sherborne; part of a neolithic stone axe

Part of a Neolithic stone axe was found 2 feet below the surface during the erection of houses in South Avenue, Sherborne in or before 1941. In 1955 the axe was in the possession of Mr C E Bean of Sherborne.

Group 1 axes were deemed to have been manufactured from dark green or greyish green igneous rock, probably Gabbro, epidorite or greenstone from the Devon and Cornwall region. An exact match for the axes had not been found at the time of publication. Axes of this group were mainly found in Somerset, Dorset, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. This includes no. 106; an axe from Sherborne in the C E Bean collection. <1>

[ST 62871588] Part of stone axe found 2 ft. below the surface. <2>

ST 62821588. During erection of these houses in South Avenue [Sherborne] half an axe of Group I material was found in clay over rock. No. 106 of the 1st. report of sub-committee on petrological identification of stone axes. <3>

The site is covered by a modern housing estate. <4>

Neolithic. <4.1>

<1> Kieller, A Piggott, S and Wallis, F S, 1941, First report of the Sub-Committee of the South-Western group of museums and art galleries on the petrological identification of stone axes; Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, number 106 (Article in serial). SDO10289.

<2> Bean, C E, Annotated record map Corr 6", June 1950 (Map). SDO16337.

<3> Bean, C E, 1950, Archaeological discoveries in Sherborne and District; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 79 (Article in serial). SDO10284.

'South Avenue (ST 62821588): During the erection of these houses, half an axe of group I material was found in clay over rock. No. 106 of the 1st report of sub-committee on petrological identification of stone axes (Proc. Prehist. Soc., VII, 1941).’

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1951, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1950, 79 (Serial). SDO50.

<4> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 18-JUL-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<4.1> Bean, C E, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: C E Bean, 15.7.1955 (Verbal communication). SDO17480.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 199410 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 25 2022 2:30PM