River Wear, perforated axe hammer
River Wear, perforated axe hammer
HER Number
393
District
Sunderland
Site Name
River Wear, perforated axe hammer
Place
Sunderland
Map Sheet
NZ35NE
Class
Monument <By Form>
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
Site Type: Specific
Axe Hammer
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Neolithic -4,000 to -2,200
Form of Evidence
Find
Description
A perforated axe-hammer found in 1849 while dredging the River Wear at a depth of some 10 feet below the bed of the river, or 16 feet below low-water mark, about 300-400 yards above Sunderland Bridge. It was described as "of mottled greenstone….6.5 inches long, the faces are rounded, and the hole, which is about seven-eighths inch in diameter, tapers slightly towards the middle". The axe-hammer was stolen from the Black Gate museum of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle in 1947.
Easting
439500
Northing
557400
Grid Reference
NZ439500557400
Sources
<< HER 393 >> Archaeologia Aeliana, 1855, Donation, 1, IV, p. 13
J.W. Summers, 1858, The History...of Sunderland, p. 14
J. Evans, 1897, The Ancient Stone Implements...of Great Britain, 2nd edition, p. 193
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1889, 2, III (for 1887-88), p. 173
W. Page, ed. 1905, Early Man, Victoria County History, Durham, Vol. I, p. 200
W.C. Mitchell, 1919, History of Sunderland, p. 6
J.A. Petch, 1925, Roman Durham, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4, I,p. 30
J.W. Summers, 1858, The History...of Sunderland, p. 14
J. Evans, 1897, The Ancient Stone Implements...of Great Britain, 2nd edition, p. 193
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1889, 2, III (for 1887-88), p. 173
W. Page, ed. 1905, Early Man, Victoria County History, Durham, Vol. I, p. 200
W.C. Mitchell, 1919, History of Sunderland, p. 6
J.A. Petch, 1925, Roman Durham, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4, I,p. 30