English: A worn and abraded knapped, ground and polished axe / axehead of probable later Neolithic date (2900-2100 BC). The axe is knapped from a dark grey / black fine grained igneous rock most probably volcanic tuff. This rock type is formed from compressed volcanic ash and has a fine grained composition with infrequent crystalline inclusions. The weight of this suggests a high level of iron / heavy metals within the matrix. Tuff is found in Britain and Ireland in a band that runs down the Irish Sea from the Lake District (the Langdale's source Group VI), County Antrim (Ireland), through North Wales (Graig Lwyd Group VII), and into Cornwall and Devon (Groups XVI and IV respectively). Volcanic tuff is similar to flint in that it can be finely worked, ground and polished to form a variety of tools; however axes are the most common find type and were used across Northern Europe during the Neolithic period.

This axe has been heavily rolled with a series of irregular shaped flake scars present on most surfaces. These scars overlie areas of extensive reworking and partial re-polishing. The axe is broadly sub-rectangular in plan and irregular, with a distinctive humped face, in cross section. It is notably heavier than many similarly sized axes of this period. In plan the sides of the axe taper from the widest point behind the cutting edge to a relatively narrow rounded incomplete butt. The sides of the axe have been heavily abraded although some areas of original polished side facets are present. The cutting edge is largely lost although the prepared edges are present forming a distinctive crescent shape in plan. There is also some evidence of distinct facets formed from polishing on the upper blade. The butt of the axe is incomplete with a series of flake scars present.

The axe has been damaged in several areas. Some of this has occurred relatively recently whilst some is much older. The recent damage can be seen as a number of distinct hinge fractures and relatively deep (scalloped) and uncontrolled flakes located along both long edges of the axe and butt. In addition to these areas there are also a number of other areas of flaking. These are similar to those that you would expect through the roughing out process, but have cut through the polished surface. This would suggest that someone has deliberately reflaked the axe prior to its deposition. These scars / flakes are relatively regular and slightly dished in appearance; they are present mostly around the butt of the axe and at the mid point. These areas are also well patinated (unlike the areas of modern damage). This would suggest that the axe has been remodelled during its working life There is no evidence of deliberate roughening or scratching at the mid point (behind the hump) of the axe; this is often associated with hafting techniques. The axe is a dark grey or black colour with several areas of smooth well polished surface. The areas of damage and flaking have been outlined above. It is impossible to source axes such as these without a detailed petrological analysis of the rock. This would allow the original source of the rock to be established. However, the weathered colour of the tuff is untypical suggesting that this is not a Group VI or VII axe; it is possible that it may be from a procurement source in Northern Ireland or Scotland.

The axe measures 134.6mm length, a maximum of 69.2mm width, and is a maximum of 31.1mm thick. The axe weighs 379 grams.