looped palstave axe

This looped palstave axe dates from around 800-650 BC and was discovered by T.H Blythe and Son ltd while digging the foundation trench for a gymnasium at Runton Hill School in Weston Runton, Norfolk in 1983.The name palstave comes from the Icelandic ‘paalstab’ and refers to a digging tool rather than an axe, in British archaeology it refers to an axe with flanges that disappear into the stop. There are three main groups of palstave axes – early, transitional and late. This beautifully weighted axe head is an example of a transitional type and can be identified by the loop, narrower blade and straight lined top, the loop originally being used to secure the axe head to the haft.