Socketed axe with extended neck and no loop. The edge is curved and wide. The ax has an internal shaft support. The blade has a hexagonal cross-section, while the mouth is oval. It is corroded although some patches of dark green patina remain. Length: 5.3 cm. Width: 4.4 cm above the edge. Photo: Svein Skare
Location:
Unknown farm and municipality in Norway
Context:
Unknown
Date:
Younger Bronze Age period 5-6
Small axe without a loop. The sides are parallel, curved out at the edge, which is slightly curved. The ax has a hexagonal cross-section and there is no internal shaft support. There is some modern damage to the blade. The surface is rough, golden brown. Length: c. 7 cm. Width: 4.4 cm across the blade. Photo: Svein Skare
Location:
Austrått, Ørland, Sør-Trøndelag
Context:
Found on a field in 1861. No other information.
Date:
Younger Bronze Age period 4
Large socketed axe with loop and Y-shaped decoration. It has straight parallel sides and a convex edge that curves outwards. There is no internal shaft support. The edge is partially damaged due to modern sharpening; there is some damage along one side and around the mouth of the socket. There is a transverse rib below the socket, which has an oval cross-section. The blade has a wide Y-shaped rib and two almost rectangular depressions on either side of the Y. Length: c. 11.7 cm. Width: c. 4.3 cm above the edge.
Location:
Unknown farm and place, in Norway.
Context:
Unknown
Dating:
The shape is similar to axes from the Early Bronze Age period 2, but the decoration indicates period 3, possibly period 4.
Small socketed ax with remnants of a loop and rectangular recesses. The ax has straight parallel sides and a straight egg. The muzzle is partially damaged, and the hem is missing. Hexagonal cross-section; the ax has no internal shaft support. There are four rectangular vertical and parallel depressions on the blade, starting just below the mouth of the base and halfway down the blade, ending in a transverse bevel. It is heavily corroded, only a few patches of green patina remain. Length: c. 7.8 cm. Width: 2.7 cm above the edge.
Location:
Unknown farm and place in Norway
Context:
Unknown
Dating:
Younger Bronze Age period 4
Small socketed axe without a loop. The base is partially missing due to corrosion and casting failure as there was not enough metal, and there are holes and bubbles in the metal. It has an internal shaft support. The edge is slightly curved and the sides are parallel. The ax has a brown patina and some golden spots. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Myklebust (no. 74/6), Selje, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found during peat digging in a bog, approx. 1 m deep and 80 m.a.s.l. No other information is available.
Dating:
A dating to the Younger Bronze Age period 5-6 is likely.
Medium-sized socketed ax without loop. The axe is straight and has a slightly curved edge. No internal shaft support. The mouth is irregular and this is due to a casting error, and has an oval cross-section. A small area of the facet on one side has peeled off. Dark green patina, partially removed by the finder; the edge is polished. There is some corrosion. Length: 7.6 cm. Width: 4 cm above the edge
Location:
Hagen under Hove (gnr. 26/11, 27), Vik, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found on a terrace above the houses on the farm, close to the deserted homestead Hagen, in the early 20th century.
Dating:
Younger Bronze Age period 4
Medium socketed axe without loop. The ax is slightly curved and has a curved edge. There is a horizontal rib around the rim of the socket, and another rib about 0.5 cm below. The socket is oval, while the blade has a hexagonal cross-section. There is no internal shaft support. Along one facet on the side there are three holes and a crack, plus a small hole between the two ribs. This is a casting fault as the metal is very thin here. Molding seams are marked along the sides. The color is golden brown, the patina has been removed. The ax does not appear to have been used. Length: c. 9 cm. Width: 3.5 cm above the edge Photo: Ann Mari Olsen © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Indre Oppedal (no. 117), Gulen, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Reported to have been found in a mound, no other information is available.
Date:
The size and shape may indicate a dating to the Early Bronze Age period 3, or the Younger Bronze Age period 4.
Small socketed ax without a loop, with straight sides and a straight edge. There is one transverse rib below the socket and possibly a rib marking the rim of the socket. There is no internal shaft support. The blade has a hexagonal cross-section. The socket and part of the blade are missing on one side of the axe; as the metal is very thin here it is likely that this is due to a failed casting. There is also a hole in one of the side facets. Some damage to the edge and around the socket, mostly old damage. Green patina, although the axe has been polished and most of the patina removed. There is some corrosion. Length: 7.4 cm Width: 3.2 cm above the edge. Photo: Ann Mari Olsen © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Vevik (no. 57/1), Eid, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found in the ground, possibly in a natural mound, during the digging of a ditch approx. 200 m WNW of the farmhouse. It was apparently found with B4589, a whetstone.
Date:
Similar axes are dated to Early Bronze Age period 3, Younger Bronze Age period 4 is also likely.
Small socketed axe with loop and extended neck. The loop is broken and missing, this looks like old damage. There is a transverse rib around the socket, starting and ending at the top of the loop. The axe has an internal shaft support. The edge of the blade is straight, and one side of the axe curves more than the other, so that the blade is lopsided. The socket has an oval cross-section while the blade has a hexagonal cross-section. Green patina, the edge of the blade has been polished and ground in modern times. Baudous type VII C 3. Length: 6.7 cm. Width: c. 4.8 cm across the blade. Photo: Olav Espevoll© University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Måren (gnr. 64), Høyanger, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found in a field, no other information.
Date:
Axes of this type are dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 6
Large socketed axe with parallel sides and slightly curved edge, without loop. There is no internal shaft support. The mouth and the upper part of the blade are damaged on one side. The damage appears to be the result of a casting error, as the metal is thin here, and there are small holes and bubbles in the metal. The mouth is round/oval while the blade has a hexagonal cross-section. There are three transverse ribs below the edge of the mouth. The leaf has a net-like pattern of small rhombic shapes. Similar to Baudou’s type VII C 1 a. Length: 11.2 cm. Width: 3.3 cm above the edge.
Location:
Hiksdal (gnr. 74/3), Vindafjord (formerly Ølen), Rogaland
Context:
Found during work in a bog area, «Knattahaugane», for cultivation approx. 40 m E of the farmhouse. There was a small hill in the middle of the marsh covering a large round stone which was removed. The ground measured approx. 2 x 1.5 m.; The stone had a diameter of approx. 1 m. The following year, B11805 was found where the ground had been. There has occasionally been a water source in the area.
Date:
The size suggests period 3, while the shape suggests period 4, i.e. the transition between the older and younger Bronze Age.
Large socketed axe without a handle. The blade is slightly curved and has a curved edge. There are three transverse ribs below the mouth. Hexagonal cross-section, there is no internal shaft support. There is some damage to the mouth, blade and edge. Green patina, the ax is corroded. Length: c. 10.8 cm Width: 4.3 cm above the edge.
Location:
Sømme, Sola, Rogaland
Context:
Found in the ground near a spring, not far from Hafrsfjorden.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Large socketed axe without a handle. The blade is slightly curved in and the edge is slightly curved. It has a hexagonal cross-section and has no internal shaft support. There is a transverse rib below the mouth. There is some damage around the mouth; there is a crack on one side and a hole on the other side. The axe is green and corroded. Length: 10.3 cm Width: 3.8 cm above the edge.
Location:
Revheim, Stavanger, Rogaland
Context:
Found in the ground near a spring and near a rock art field Fluberget. Other discoveries in the area are a couple of surprises.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Socketed axe without loop. The axe has straight, parallel sides and a convex edge. The socket is damaged. There are two transverse ribs below the mouth of the socket. No internal haft support; hexagonal cross-section. The blade is decorated with a plastic, negative facet and deep ribs that curve out towards the corners of the blade. Dark green patina, most of which is severely corroded. Similar to Rygh fig. 99. Length: c. 9.6 cm. Width: 4.3 cm across blade
Context:
Found when ploughing in the 1950s, about 10-15 cm deep, on a terrace in an otherwise flat field.
Location:
Øvrebust (gnr. 133/6), Stordal, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
Shape, decoration and lack of internal shaft support indicate an early date for the axe, Early Bronze Age period 2.
Socketed axe with extended neck and loop. It has no internal haft support, and it has a hexagonal cross-section. Axes of this type are decorated with a characteristic set of horizontal and vertical ribs: three transverse ribs next to the loop, crossed by three vertical ribs. The decoration is rather faint. The loop is only partially cast, and there is a small hole in the metal below the loop, where the metal is thin. There are also bubbles in the metal on one side. The socket is partially damaged. The axe is green and corroded. Baudou’s type B1b, the Norwegian variant. Length: c. 8.5 cm. Width: c. 4.7 cm across edge
Context:
Found about 20 cm deep at the edge of a bog, on gravel covered with soil. It was found in the 1950s on an old path that went around the marsh, approx. 15 m.a.s.l. The place is known as «Nordavindsholo».
Location:
Øvre Berge (gnr. 30/2), Herøy, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
Axes of this type are generally dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 5-6.
Small socketed axe without a loop. The axe is waisted and has a slightly curved edge. It has internal haft support. The socket is partial and it looks like there was not enough metal when the axe was cast. There are three transverse ribs, one marking the mouth of the socket and two below. Four vertical ribs run in pairs from the lowest transverse rib, and diverge towards the corners of the edge; the two inner ribs are shorter than the outer ones and come to an end c. 1.5 cm above the edge. Golden-brown patina. Parallels: Montelius Minnen fig. 1180 has similar ribs in pairs. Length: c. 5.6 cm. Width: c.3.7 cm across edge
Context:
Found in 1964 in a bog, about 1.5 m deep, and 50 m from land. According to one report, there was charcoal and burnt stone, and a layer of black soil containing charcoal in the area. There used to be a river and mill nearby.
Location:
Noggva (no. 6/11), Haram, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
The axe is dated to period 5-6
Socketed axe without handle, incomplete. The base is missing due to a casting error: there was not enough metal. The blade has a hexagonal cross-section and no internal shaft support. The axe is curved in and the edge is convex. The surface is rough and does not appear to have been polished; it is green with some darker areas, and there are signs that the edge has become sharper in modern times. The blade is decorated: three vertical ribs run down the blade; the left and right ribs go down to the edge while the middle rib stops about halfway down the blade. This suggests that the axe is either of the Mälar type or the Norwegian variety, probably the latter. Length: 7.5 cm. Width: 5 cm above the edge.
Context:
Found at the bottom of a bog at Seljehaugen, approx. 85 cm deep and approx. 100 m from shore.
Location:
Sylte (gnr. 25/2), Vanylven, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
Axes of the Mälar type and the Norwegian variant are dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 4-5.
Socketed axe. Most of the socket and the loop are missing, broken off by the finder. The edge was resharpened and the axe hafted and used as a scraper. The axe has parallel sides, slightly waisted, and convex edge. The blade has a hexagonal cross-section. The corners of the edge may have curved up or outwards, as it looks like they have been filed off. The facet is trapezoid and looks like it started at the rib at or beneath the mouth of the socket. Part of a transverse rib can be discerned. The axe has no internal haft support. The surface is rough, mostly golden with some darker brown areas. The shape is similar to Baudou’s type VII C 1 a and Montelius Minnen fig. 1175. Length: c. 7 cm. Width: c. 4.1 cm across edge.
Context:
Found in a bog, no other information.
Location:
Strand, Fiskå (gnr. 8), Vanylven, County: Møre & Romsdal
Date:
The size should indicate a date to the Late Bronze Age, while the outline with parallel sides is reminiscent of Period 3 axes. A date to the Younger Bronze Age period 4 is probable.
Small socketed axe without loop. The socket is incomplete due to a casting flaw; there was not enough metal. Two marked ribs can be discerned. The socket has an oval cross-section. The facet starts at the ribs and is triangular. The sides are parallel and are slightly wider near the edge, which is convex and curves up on either side. There is no internal haft support. The axe has a brown patina which has been more or less completely removed in modern times. Similar to Baudou’s type VII C 2 b, although the sides are straighter.. Length: 7.1 cm. Width: 3.9 cm across edge.
Context:
Found in a bog, no other information.
Location:
Kvamsøy, farm unknown (Simones according to Johansen 1993), Sande, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
The size of the axe suggests a date from the Late Bronze Age, but the shape points to the Early Bronze Age. The similarity to Baudou’s type VII C 2b suggests a period 5 date, although the lack of internal shaft support dates the ax to Younger Bronze Age period 4.
Small fragment of socketed axe with loop; the fragment consists of a loop and the surrounding area. There are indications of ribs starting at both ends of the loop. The fractures are old and worn. Length: 2.5 cm Width: 1.4 cm. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
Found during student excavations at Hordamuseet’s museum area in 2008. The fragment was found in a layer dated to the Roman period, and was clearly not in context. Layers dated to the Roman and pre-Roman periods as well as the Late Bronze Age were excavated and were interpreted as a settlement.
Location:
Stend (no. 97/54), Bergen, Hordaland
Date:
General date to the Bronze Age.
Small socketed axe without a loop. The hole is partially missing on one side, this is mostly old damage. The blade is worn and there is no internal shaft support. Green patina, most of it is gone, and the ax is corroded. Possible parallel: Baudou VII C 2b variant. Length: 8.3 cm Width: 4.8 cm across the blade.
Context:
Found in the shore below a pit with gravelly masses, where a grave is known as well as a number of Iron Age finds. The ax may have come from the gravel; however, this cannot be determined.
Location:
Nes (gnr. 81/6, 7), Kvinnherad, Hordaland
Date:
Younger Bronze Age period 4-5. Some of these can probably be dated to the Early Bronze Age period 3.
Socketed axe with loop and extended neck of the Norwegian variety, it has facets on the broad side. The sides are almost straight. Green/grey patina, which has peeled off in spots. The ax is decorated with the characteristic pattern of crossing ribs: three transverse ribs parallel to the hem, crossed by three vertical ribs. Two of the vertical ribs follow the sides of the axe. There is no internal shaft support. The hole is incomplete; this happened during casting when there was not enough metal in the mold. The cross-section around the base is hexagonal, while the blade is more or less rectangular. Length: 10.6 cm. Width: 5 cm above the edge. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
Found in 1955 on a path west of a large crag, 300 m N from Voss Folkemuseum and 100 m above the plateau where the buildings are located, 275 m above sea level. As the ax had not been there for long, it had presumably come down from the hillside above during the winter.
Location:
Mølster (gnr, 46/1), Voss, Hordaland
Date:
Axes of the Norwegian variety are dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 4-5.
Slender socketed axe with loop and extended neck. The finder polished the axe, so the green patina is almost gone. There is a faint horizontal rib around the hole. No internal shaft support. The ax was cast incorrectly: the loop is tight and part of the socket is missing on one side. Whether the ax was actually used is impossible to say as the blade has been sharpened in modern times. Baudou’s Scanian variant B 2 a. Length: c. 9.8 cm. Width: 5.6 cm across the blade
Context:
Found in the remains of an old forge «years ago», no other information. There is a pile nearby.
Location:
Børve (78/1), Ullensvang, Hordaland
Date:
Axes of this type are dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 6.
Socketed axe with loop. It has a slightly flared neck and internal shaft support, there is no decoration. There is some damage to the hole and the hemp is worn. The edge is somewhat crooked, as it curves more markedly on the same side as the hem. Green patina, which is partially dissolved; the ax is partially corroded. Baudou’s type VII C3. Length: 5.6 cm. Width: 3.8 cm Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
The axe was found on the farm, but there is no further information on when or where.
Location:
Kvamsøy (gnr. 55/4,5), Kvam, Hordaland
Date:
Small axes of this type are generally dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 5-6.
Socketed axe, B5929. Slender axe of Norwegian variety, with loop and extended neck, of Baudou’s type B1 b. Axes of this type are decorated with a characteristic set of horizontal and vertical ribs: three transverse ribs set parallel to the loop, crossed by three vertical ribs. The axe has an internal shaft support, and a hexagonal cross-section. The green patina has been partially removed and there are scratches consistent with patina removal, especially on the blade and on the neck. Length: 12.8 cm. Width: 4.9 cm.
Context:
The axe has been stored at the Rosendal Barony, no information on how, where or when it was found. Presumably it was found at the barony, or on one of the farms belonging to the barony in the Sunnhordland/Hardanger region.
Location:
Unknown farm in Kvinnherad, Hordaland
Date:
Axes of this type are generally dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 5-6
Socketed axe, B5311. Large socketed axe with extended neck and loop. Green patina, partially removed on one side; this has partially flattened the ribs on that side. The axe has no internal shaft support, and has a hexagonal cross-section. Baudou’s type B1b, the Norwegian variant. Axes of this type are decorated with a characteristic set of horizontal and vertical ribs: three transverse ribs set parallel to the loop, crossed by three vertical ribs. There is also a transverse rib under the socket, and the edge of the socket is marked with a rib. There is a large hole, about 0.8 cm across on one side, just above the three transverse ribs. Length: 13 cm. Width: 5.5 cm above the edge.
Context:
Found in a field under cultivation, about 15 cm deep, and 400 m SSE of the farmhouse. The exact location is no longer known.
Location:
Slæn (no. 331/1), Voss, Hordaland
Date:
Axes of this type are generally dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 5-6.
Socketed axe B4587, with extended neck and hem, undecorated. A corner of the rim was broken by the finder. There is a horizontal raised rib on the neck. Part of the socket is broken. The axe has an internal shaft support. Triangular facet on the blade. Dark green patina, partially removed by fins. Baudou’s type C3. Length: 6 cm. Width: 3.8 cm above the edge. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
The axe was reportedly found in a mound on the farm. There is no further information on how it was found.
Location:
Sakstad (gnr. 18, 19), Meland, Hordaland
Dating:
Similar axes have been found in collections dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 6.
Socketed axe, B1006. Large, square axe without loop. The axe is flattened and there is some damage around the mouth; it is broken on one side. The edges along the facets are slightly raised. There are two transverse ribs on the neck and a Y-shaped raised rib on the blade. Dark green patina; there are some golden spots due to attempts to sharpen the ax after it was found. Parallels: Montelius Minnen 993. Length: 10.4 cm. Width: 4.2 cm above the edge
Context:
The axe was found sometime before 1841, and was reported to have come from a burial according to the museum acquisition list (Lorange 1875). According to Per Fett (1954) it may have been found in the ground as a stray find, citing Christie 1838 «found in the ground». The farm is located at the northern end of Røldalsvatnet; the area is surrounded by mountains. Several mounds and cairns have been registered on the farm.
Location:
Seim (no. 28), Odda, Hordaland
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
