Find Spot record MDO5401 - Perforated stone adze found at Bullhill Farm, Alderholt

A shaft-hole adze was found by a farm worker at Bullhill Farm, Alderholt, where it was being used to support a gate. The implement has a maximum length of 103 mm, a maximum breadth of 60 mm, and a maximum thickness of 30 mm. Although it has been slightly damaged in antiquity, and the stone has weathered over its entire outer surface, the sides of the implement are noticeably parallel to one another. The butt end, which is almost straight, is roughly at right angles to the sides. The cutting edge possesses a gentle curve and is blunted, presumably through use. The blade end of the body of the implement is slightly thicker than the butt end. A shaft-hole passes through the implement transversely to the cutting edge, though not quite at a true right angle to it. It is neither perfectly straight nor hour-glass in shape; it is 25 mm in diameter at each face of the implement, and narrows to 18mm for the central third of its length. The surface of the hole is well polished, which would be consistent with its having been bored with a rotary drill or possibly with its having been in friction with the haft when in use. The axe weighs 331.6 grams.

The adze has been examined petrologically. Its serial number is 1618 Dorset 122. It is described macroscopically as of "Green/brown rock with obvious banding - cf. Schist structure" and microscopically as of "Medium grained, pronounced schistocity - hornblende, ilmenite, quartz. Some feldspar. Well banded". The suggested source of the rock is Cornwall and it is ascribed to Group XVII. <1>

A Neolithic shaft-hole adze was discovered by Mr. R. Miles on Bulhill Farm, SU 107139, where it was being used to support a gate. The original find-spot is thought to be very probably in the vicinity. The adze, of green-brown rock (Petrological Group XVII) is 103mm. long, 60mm. wide, 30mm. thick and weighs 331.6 grammes. It is in the possession of J F Bayes of Cranborne. (1)

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1975, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1974, 51-52 (Serial). SDO74.

'The shaft-hole adze illustrated here (Fig. 1) was discovered by a farm worker, Mr. R. Miles of Cranborne, in Bullhill Farm, Alderholt, where it was being used to help support a gate. There is no reason to suppose that the adze was brought any great distance to perform this service and an original find-spot in the near vicinity of SU 107139 is therefore probable. Mr. J. F. Bayes of Cranborne recognised the weight as being of some antiquity and having acquired it in 1973 he brought it to my attention. I am indebted to him for readily granting me permission to publish this most interesting find, which remains in his possession.
The implement has a maximum length of 103 mm, a maximum breadth of 60 mm, and a maximum thickness of 30 mm. Although it has been slightly damaged in antiquity, and the stone has weathered over its entire outer surface, the sides of the implement are noticeably parallel to one another. The butt end, which is almost straight, is roughly at right angles to the sides. The cutting edge possesses a gentle curve and is blunted, presumably through use. The blade end of the body of the implement is slightly thicker than the butt end. A shaft-hole passes through the implement transversely to the cutting edge, though not quite at a true right angle to it. It is neither perfectly straight nor hour-glass in shape; it is 25 mm in diameter at each face of the implement, and narrows to 18mm for the central third of its length. The surface of the hole is well polished, which would be consistent with its having been bored with a rotary drill or possibly with its having been in friction with the haft when in use. The axe weighs 331.6 grammes.

Criteria have been established by Mrs F. E.S. Roe (1) for the classification of battle-axes and mace-heads, but at the time of writing there are none for shaft-hole adzes. Battle-axes and axe-hammers have shaft-holes parallel to their cutting edges, and mace-heads and pebble-hammers, whilst possessing shaft-holes, have no cutting edge.

The implement here discussed is therefore an adze, since it possesses both shaft-hole and cutting edge, which are not parallel but transverse to one another. Shaft-hole adzes are few in number compared with other types of stone implements and this example witll be a welcome addition to the list of those from South-Western England recently published (2). Four examples are listed from Dorset: one whose exact provenance is unknown, and one from Marnhull, both damaged; one from Warren Farm, Alderholt; and one from Halstock which is too damaged to allow a confident classification to be made. We now have therefore a fifth shaft-hole adze which, like the only other complete example, comes from the parish of Alderholt.
The use to which such implements were put is not certain. Sir John Evans, comparing the type with some Continental examples described as hoes, said "It is , of course, possible that these implements may have been used for digging purposes." (3). Thomas has discussed the local concentration of adzes in Cornwall and has susggested that they may have been used in boat-building. (4) Whilst this may be valid where adzes have been found in coastal regions it seems more probable that our Dorset examples would have been used in general carpentry. More research is needed into the possible uses of this type of implement.
The adze has been examined petrologically. Its serial number is 1618 Dorset 122. It is described macroscopically as of "Green/brown rock with obvious banding - cf. Schist structure" and microscopically as of "Medium grained, pronounced schistocity - hornblende, ilmenite, quartz. Some feldspar. Well banded". The suggested source of the rock is Cornwall and it is ascribed to Group XVII. A superficial examination of the adze by the writer had led him to think that it was made of greenstone and therefore possibly of Cornish origin, but its allocation to Group XVII is surprising and adds considerably to the interest of this implement. The distribution of Group XVII implements is limited to Cornwall, Devon and Dorset, and it has thus been suggested that these implements were produced essentially for the use of a few communities and that the few stray finds which exist could imply that producers and users were in direct contact. (5) The discovery of this adze pushes the distribution of Group XVII products further east, almost into Hampshire.
The chief interest in this find centres on the date which may be atributed to it. Piggott has placed Group XVII in the first chronological phase of stone axe manufacture, Early Neolithic. (6)

<2> Hewitt, Morley, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: Morley Hewitt FRICS FAI, Old Manor House, Fordingbridge, Hampshire (Verbal communication). SDO17762.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 217580 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 8 2022 4:33PM