Ripple Hoard - Bronze Age Palstaves
This hoard of Bronze Age tools was found in Ripple, near Deal in
1994 and 1995, by metal detectorists. They have been kindly donated
to the museum for the Dover Bronze Age Boat Gallery
A palstave is a type of axe.
The technology of Bronze Age axe-making developed from simple
one-piece moulds, to two-piece and then three piece moulds. The
palstave is the furthest development of the axe made from a two
piece mould, before three-piece mould axes were developed.
A flanged axe
This Bronze Age axe has been hafted onto a replica handle. It is
a development of the flat axe made from a one-piece mould. The
sides are hammered down to make 'flanges' on either side to help
attach the axe head to the haft.
A replica palstave
A palstave is a development of the flat axe, where the shaped
sides are cast rather than hammered.
A replica socketed axe
A socketed axe is made with a hollow end, so the handle fits
inside the 'socket'. It is then tied on. This replica axe has a
'loop' to allow the axe to be tied onto the handle