Summary

Early Bronze Age flat axe, type Migdale, variant Biggar, from Biggar, Lanarkshire, 2150 - 1950 BC

Accession Number

X.DA 11

Other references

Original description

BRONZE FLAT AXES. Axe, 6 1/4 x 3 in. from near Biggar, Lanarkshire. Trevor Cowie notes, 25 January 2013: see Schmidt & Burgess 1981 no 210: this is the type specimen of their Biggar variant of Migdale type axeheads. The axehead has a better provenance than implied there or in the existing NMAS catalogue. As recorded by the RCAHMS, a cairn, from which the bronze flat axe may have been obtained, is said to have been situated on Wintermuir Hill, Biggar parish. If so, it is likely that the cairn was destroyed during the working of the quarry that occupies the summit of the hill (RCAHMS Site Number NT04SE 29; NGR NT 060 401). However there is some doubt as to exact site, as the provenance of the axehead has also been attributed to another possible site on Bizzyberry Hill (see 'Toftcombs'): RCAHMS NT03NE 2; NGR NT 0538 3959). References: Coles, J M 'Scottish Early Bronze Age metalwork', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 101 (1968-69) 83; Hunter, W Biggar and the house of Fleming: an account of the Biggar district, archaeological, historical and biographical, Edinburgh 1867, 3, 8 illustr.; Irving, GV & Murray, A The upper ward of Lanarkshire described and delineated, 3v Glasgow 1864; Irving, G V 'On ancient camps of the upper ward of Lanarkshire', J Brit Archaeol Ass, 10 (1855), 14; RCAHMS Lanarkshire: an inventory of the prehistoric and Roman monuments, Edinburgh 1978, No.119; Schmidt & Burgess 1981 no 210. Trevor Cowie notes, 2 July 2015: hammered marks on both faces

Associated person/people (e.g. excavator/former collection)

Sim Collection

Discovery / field collection

Date of discovery

Not recorded

Method (e.g. excavation)

Not recorded

Place (i.e. location of discovery)

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland, Northern Europe

Grid reference

Not recorded

Acquisition

Acquisition date

1882

Acquisition source (i.e. name of donor)

Sim Collection

Acquisition source role (e.g. donor)

Vendor

Image