Information for record number MWA2178:
Findspot - Neolithic to Bronze Age hammer

Summary Findspot - a Neolithic or Bronze Age hammer (or adze) was found in the Priory Mill Pond, Priory Park, Warwick.
What Is It?  
Type: Findspot
Period: Neolithic (4000 BC - 2201 BC)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Warwick
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 28 65
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

 
Description

 
Source Number  

1 Stone adze or hammer, 17.5 cm long, in Warwick Museum, labelled 'from the millpond of the Priory, 1885'. The perforation is of hourglass type and a Neolithic date was suggested.
2 JMM located the findspot as SP2865.
3 Perforated adze or hammer. Group XV (1/ah).
6 There is some confusion as it appears that the find has probably been catalogued twice as A1 and A1726.
 
Sources

Source No: 2
Source Type: Article in serial
Title: Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society: New Petrological Groups based on Axes from the West Midlands: Second Report of the West Midland Group of the Council for British Archaeology on the Petrological Investigation of Stone Axes
Author/originator: F W Shotton
Date: 1959
Page Number: 135-143
Volume/Sheet: 25
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: TBAS vol 58 Stone Implements of Warwickshire
Author/originator: Shotton FW
Date: 1934
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 58
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Map
Title: 44NE
Author/originator: JMM
Date:
Page Number: 44NE
Volume/Sheet: Annotated Map
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: WM
Author/originator: WM
Date:
Page Number: A198
Volume/Sheet: Catalogue
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 86
Author/originator: Thomas N
Date: 1974
Page Number: 32
Volume/Sheet: 86
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Unpublished document
Author/originator: Goode C
Date: 1986
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
A Neolithic axehead or adze found in Priory Park, Warwick
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Click here for larger image  
 
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source TBAS Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society is a journal produced by the society annually. It contains articles about archaeological field work that has taken place in Birmingham and Warwickshire in previous years. Copies of the journal are kept by the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source WM Warwickshire Museum Aerial Photograph Collection. A collection of oblique and vertical aerial photographs and taken by various organisations and individuals, including the Royal Airforce, The Potato Board, Warwickshire Museum. The collection is held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
period Prehistoric About 500,000 BC to 42 AD

The Prehistoric period covers all the periods from the Palaeolithic to the end of the Iron Age.
This is a time when people did not write anything down so there is no documentary evidence for archaeologists to look at. Instead, the archaeologists look at the material culture belonging to the people and the places where they lived for clues about their way of life.

The Prehistoric period is divided into the Early Prehistoric and Later Prehistoric.
The Early Prehistoric period covers the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods.
The Later Prehistoric period covers Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age times.
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period Neolithic About 4000 BC to 2351 BC

The word ‘Neolithic’ means ‘New Stone Age’. Archaeologists split up the Neolithic period into three phases; early, middle and late. The Neolithic period comes after the Mesolithic period and before the Bronze Age.

People in the Neolithic period hunted and gathered food as their ancestors had but they were also began to farm. They kept animals and grew crops. This meant that they were able to settle more permanently in one location instead of constantly moving from place to place to look for food.
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period Bronze Age About 2500 BC to 700 BC

The Bronze Age comes after the Neolithic period and before the Iron Age.

The day to day life of people in the Bronze Age probably changed little from how their ancestors had lived during the Neolithic period. They still lived in farmsteads, growing crops and rearing animals.

During the Bronze Age people discovered how to use bronze, an alloy of tin and copper (hence the name that has given to this era). They used it to make their tools and other objects, although they continued to use flint and a range of organic materials as well. A range of bronze axes, palstaves and spears has been found in Warwickshire.
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monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument PARK * An enclosed piece of land, generally large in area, used for hunting, the cultivation of trees, for grazing sheep and cattle or visual enjoyment. Use more specific type where known. back
monument MILL POND * The area of water retained above a mill dam for driving a mill. back
monument FINDSPOT * The approximate location at which stray finds of artefacts were found. Index with object name. back
monument PRIORY * A monastery governed by a prior or prioress. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, FRIARY, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument MUSEUM * A building, group of buildings or space within a building, where objects of value such as works of art, antiquities, scientific specimens, or other artefacts are housed and displayed. back
monument HAMMER * A machine in which a heavy block of metal is used for beating, breaking or driving something. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record